Watchdog files labor, immigration raps vs Indian firm

MANILA, Philippines — An anti-graft watchdog has filed formal complaints against an Indian company and its two executives for allegedly violating immigration and labor laws.

The Anti-Trapo Movement of the Philippines Inc. (ATM) asked the Bureau of Immigration (BI) and the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) to initiate deportation proceedings against Sandeep Sadahiv, 55, and Kandadai Sukumar Aswin, 38, chief executive officer and director, respectively, of ISS Facility Services Phils. Inc. based in Makati City.

The firm offers cleaning, support, property, catering, security and integrated property managent services.

ATM founding chairman Leon Peralta alleged that 95 percent of the firm’s 9,500 employees work on a “no work, no pay” basis.

“But once deployed, exorbitant fees are deducted from their daily wage in the guise of service fees,” he said.

To avoid compensating the workers in cases of lay-offs or termination, Peralta said the ISS compels them to hand in their resignation by withholding their pay.

Peralta claimed several complaints have been filed against ISS but most of the complainants were forced to abandon their cases due to financial constraints.

He also accused the ISS of not securing alien employment permits for Sadahiv and Aswin.