LABOR Secretary Silvestre Bello III yesterday said the PNP proposal to require workers to secure a national police clearance before transacting business with the Department of Labor and Employment needs to undergo extensive consultation.
In a phone interview, Bello said he has already informed PNP chief Debold Sinas that the latter’s proposal must first be subjected to consultation from different stakeholders before a decision is reached.
“I told him that his intention is good. But for us to consider it, we will have to consult our usual tripartite body, the workers, the employers, and the Department of Trade and Industry,” said Bello.
He said he has already issued a directive to DOLE senior officials to coordinate with concerned sectors.
Sinas had earlier informed Bello that the PNP is hoping the DOLE will support the National Police Clearance System by making it as one of the requirements for “various transactions” with the Labor Department.
The PNP described the NPCS as a nationwide issuance of police clearance, through online application, which seeks to improve the process for checking criminal records.
This early, the labor sector is not keen on the PNP proposal, with the NAGKAISA Labor Coalition saying it considers the PNP proposal “absurd.”
“It is an overreach on the part of the police force that is not contented with red-tagging trade unionists,” said NAGKAISA.
“Now, it wants to red-tape workers’ access to the DOLE services,” it added.
