Senator Raffy Tulfo is seeking to conduct a Senate investigation into what he described as “inhumane working conditions” and questionable labor practices, following a surprise inspection he personally conducted in two major canning factories in Navotas.

Tulfo, who is Vice Chairman of the Senate Committee on Labor and Employment, began his inspection at a corned beef manufacturing plant, where he was approached by employees during their break. Workers raised concerns over the “pakyawan system,” a payment scheme that allegedly forces them to work 12-hour shifts while receiving only the minimum wage. They claimed they were losing wages unfairly during the four hours of overtime required under the system.

Inside the facility, Tulfo noted the deafening noise of heavy machinery and observed that workers were not provided with ear protection. He also pointed out the poor ventilation, intense heat, and foul odor inside the plant.

Personnel from the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), who joined the inspection, reported finding expired fire extinguishers and a non-functional emergency fire hose with no water supply.

The senator then visited a sardine canning plant, which appeared more organized and clean but still had poor ventilation and a broken industrial ceiling fan. In the machine repair area, Tulfo found scattered industrial parts and outdated equipment with no service or maintenance records. He also noted the absence of personal protective equipment (PPE) for the machine operators.

Some long-time employees told Tulfo’s staff that despite decades of service, they were still being paid below minimum wage. They also reported being made to pay for excess uniforms instead of receiving them for free—an issue that drew sharp criticism from the senator.

Tulfo urged the management of both factories to consider implementing a progressive wage system aligned with the company’s profits, saying loyal and long-serving employees should see their quality of life improve alongside corporate growth.

In response to his findings, Tulfo announced plans to call for a Senate inquiry into the labor practices of canning factories and the treatment of their workers.