Filipino steel plant workers remain displaced after government raids as labour groups seek aid

Around 900 Filipino workers remain displaced after authorities shut down three steel plants in Luzon and Mindanao amid alleged safety, labour and regulatory violations, prompting labour groups to call for immediate government assistance.

The labour groups said workers at steel facilities in Pampanga, Misamis Oriental and Davao City have been left without jobs or income following a series of government raids and enforcement operations.

Authorities have cited several alleged violations during the operations, including the presence of undocumented foreign workers, mostly Chinese nationals, the illegal possession and use of radioactive industrial materials and the production of substandard steel products.

However, labour groups said Filipino employees are bearing the immediate impact of the government crackdown.

Kilusang Mayo Uno Southern Mindanao said workers affected by the Davao operation were left with little clarity about their employment status and without immediate livelihood support after the plant was shut down.

The group said employees across the three facilities had lost jobs or income while authorities investigate the alleged violations.

“Rather than feeling rescued, workers described experiencing fear, intimidation, and uncertainty,” the group said, adding that government agencies involved in the operations had not provided immediate assistance, livelihood support or a clear plan for affected employees.

The Federation of Free Workers has urged the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) to take the lead in determining what assistance should be provided to displaced employees.

Federation of Free Workers President Sonny Matula said employers should be held accountable for any violations, but workers should not become “collateral damage” in enforcement operations.

The group has called on DOLE to assess the wages, benefits, livelihood assistance and alternative employment opportunities that may be available to affected workers.

Matula also stressed the need for closer coordination among government agencies involved in workplace safety enforcement.

Republic Act 11058, or the Occupational Safety and Health Law, gives the labour secretary visitorial and enforcement powers over workplace safety standards. The law also requires DOLE to establish mechanisms for coordination with other government agencies.

“That is why we are humbly asking Labor Secretary Francis Tolentino to take the lead. Many agencies can help, but it must be clear who is at the helm,” Matula said.

He added that coordination among agencies is particularly important when workers' safety and livelihoods are at stake.

Steel plant raids uncover alleged violations

The government operations began in May 2026 with a raid on Philippine Sanjia Steel Corporation in Tagoloan, Misamis Oriental. Authorities arrested 69 Chinese nationals and one Filipino during the operation.

The enforcement campaign continued on July 19 at Chuang Xing Steel Corporation in Magalang, Pampanga. Several Chinese nationals and one Filipino were arrested, while the employment permits of six Chinese workers were subsequently cancelled.

In August, authorities raided Davao Mighty Steel Corp. in Davao City, resulting in 10 Chinese nationals and four Filipinos being taken into custody.

The operations reportedly uncovered alleged immigration, labour and workplace safety violations, along with concerns over radioactive-bearing industrial materials and the manufacture of substandard steel products.

The issue of potential exposure to radioactive materials has also raised concerns over the health of workers who were employed at the facilities.

Matula said around 100 workers who were initially examined reportedly showed no acute symptoms. However, he stressed that the absence of immediate symptoms does not remove the need for continued medical monitoring.

For labour groups, the raids have therefore created a second concern beyond regulatory enforcement: ensuring that Filipino workers who were not responsible for the alleged violations are protected from the economic and social consequences of plant closures.

The groups are calling for government agencies to establish a clear assistance and employment plan for affected workers while investigations into the steel plants continue.