By Leslie Aquino
To address the supposed slow processing of job orders in Japan, Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III is planning to assign another Labor Attache there specifically in Osaka.
Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Secretary Silvestre Bello III
(PCOO / MANILA BULLETIN)
"There will be another LaBatt...I will place another LaBatt in Osaka," he said in an interview.
"They have this new worker requirement so we really need to fast track the processing, as well," added Bello.
Earlier, recruitment consultant Emmanuel Geslani said orders for accredited recruitment agencies deploying Filipino workers under Japan’s TITP (Technical Internship Training Program) being processed at the Philippine Overseas Labor Office in Tokyo at snail’s pace and red tape experienced by Japanese principals have resulted in cancelled job orders due to the lengthy procedures by the Tokyo Polo Office.
But Bello said the POLO was just being careful in approving job orders from Japanese principals.
"I asked our LaBatt there (Maria Rose Escalada) to explain and she told me that she is just making sure that there are no funny business there; that is why she has to be very careful," he said.
"We understand that. It is certainly better to ensure that no OFWs will be put to harm because of her being lax (than otherwise)," added Bello.
However, he denied that job orders from Japan are already being cancelled due to the alleged delays in the processing of POLO.
"Such an issue was never raised to me by the Ambassador of Japan. Otherwise, it would have been relayed to me," said Bello.