A labor leader has said that foreign nationals working in the Philippines may face separate labor and immigration scrutiny even before criminal cases are resolved, as authorities continue to investigate the deaths of two Ateneo de Manila University student-athletes in Aurora. The Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE) earlier directed Ateneo men’s basketball coach Thomas Anthony “Tab” Baldwin to explain his employment status, according to a report in BusinessWorld.
The labor leader, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the case highlights the vulnerability of foreign workers in the country, who can be subjected to separate administrative proceedings by labor and immigration authorities independent of any criminal investigation. The DoLE directive to Baldwin, a New Zealander, suggests that employers must ensure compliance with labor laws even when criminal allegations are pending.
The Ateneo probe has raised broader questions about the enforcement of labor standards for foreign nationals, particularly in the sports sector. Observers say the case could set a precedent for how the government handles parallel criminal and administrative proceedings involving foreign workers.