Mall workers may lose jobs because of raids – DoLE

Thousands of workers, mostly from malls and small retailers in Binondo, Quiapo, Sta. Cruz in Manila, and Baclaran in Parañaque may lose their jobs due to “unwarranted raids” on these small businesses by government agents, the Department of Labor and Employment yesterday said.

The closure of Sta. Lucia mall in Binondo and the recent raids on 168 Department Store in Binondo and small retailers in Quiapo and Baclaran have caused many stall owners to close their businesses.

The Labor department said the raids being conducted by government agencies, particularly the Presidential Anti-Smuggling Group (PASG), have alarmed small businesses, especially the retail sectors that hire a number of workers.

“Unless the government order a moratorium on searches and confiscation of imported merchandise being sold in malls and stalls in Metro Manila, many of them will close shop which would affect thousands of workers,” a Labor official, who asked anonymity, said. Mina Diaz. –Daily Tribune