By Chloe Mari A. Hufana, Reporter

AS THE predominantly Catholic Philippines observe the Holy Week, a labor leader urged employers and the government to protect the country’s most vulnerable workers in the informal sectors as they face heightened economic instability and labor abuses during the religious holiday.

Federation of Free Workers President Jose Sonny G. Matula said informal workers, such as street vendors, transport operators, and food hawkers, remain vulnerable due to their lack of legal protections.

“They may be displaced by local government, clean-up drives, denied access to selling areas, or harassed while trying to earn a living during the holiday period,” he told BusinessWorld in a Viber chat.

These sectors also often see their incomes plummet as regular foot traffic disappears from city centers, while other sectors thrive during the holiday, such as the food, drinks, tourism, accommodation, and transport sectors, he noted.

“Holy Week can be a dry spell or a temporary boom, depending on location and opportunity,” he said, noting most labor violations occur typically in sectors that experience a boom during the religious holiday.

“Many workers in these industries are on short-term or contractual arrangements and are often compelled to work excessive hours without proper holiday or overtime pay,” he said, citing tourism-heavy areas like Baguio, Bohol, Cebu, Davao, Zamboanga, Boracay, and Palawan among other major tourist destinations.

“These regions attract high tourist volumes, but labor inspection and protection efforts often fall behind during peak seasons,” he said.

HOLIDAY PAY
Labor Secretary Bienvenido E. Laguesma, meanwhile, reminded employers of labor orders on special pays during the holidays.

“Just to remind our employers about the payment premiums to their workers who reported for work this Holy Week,” he said in a Viber chat on Tuesday. “Double or 200% for work rendered on Maundy Thursday and Good Friday. 30% premium for Black Saturday.”

Workers exposed to the heat of the sun are also reminded to comply with precautionary measures like proper hydration, suitable clothing, and giving of periodic rest periods for protection.

The heat index in the country could soar to dangerous levels, especially during the dry season from March to May, experts earlier warned.

The Holy Week began last April 13 with Palm Sunday and will end on April 20 with Easter Sunday.

THE Bureau of Immigration (BI) on Tuesday said it detained 86 foreign nationals in an operation targeting suspected online scammers in Makati City, as the Philippine government intensifies its crackdown on illegal offshore activities.

The scammers were composed mostly of Chinese nationals, with some Malaysians and Vietnamese, it said in a statement.

The arrests were made on April 10 during an enforcement sweep at a condominium complex in Pio del Pilar village, following intelligence reports indicating that foreign nationals were being forced to work in digital scam operations involving fake e-commerce and romance schemes.

Authorities were tipped off after a Chinese national reportedly sent a WhatsApp message seeking help, claiming he was being held against his will and barred from leaving the premises.

Investigators said the syndicate allegedly lured victims through fraudulent online shopping sites and dating platforms, extracting payments without delivering goods or services.

During the raid, agents found dozens of foreign nationals stationed at computer terminals believed to be used in orchestrating the scams. None of the individuals were able to present valid documentation permitting them to work or stay legally in the Philippines.

The arrested individuals are being processed for deportation and are currently being held at the BI Warden’s Facility in Bicutan, Taguig.

The BI has urged the public to report suspected illegal activities involving foreign nationals as the agency vows to step up enforcement efforts in cyberscam cases. — Chloe Mari A. Hufana