MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI), one of the largest business organizations in the country, has expressed concern over a provision of the Immigration Law allowing the government to order immigration personnel to do overtime work at the country's airports and seaports.

PCCI was referring to Section 30 of the Immigration Act of 2010 which grants the immigration commissioner the power "to authorize immigration employees to do overtime work at rates fixed by him when the services rendered is to be paid for by the shipping companies, airlines, or other persons served."

Ambassador Donald Dee, vice chairman of PCCI, said such provision further exacerbates the cost of doing business in the country.

He also said that this does not support the objective of the Tourism Act of 2009 to help address poverty especially in the countryside through investment generation.

"While we agree with the Immigration Act, we would like this particular provision vetoed to further boost the long-term competitiveness of the Philippines through enhanced international connectivity," Dee said.

Earleir, the Court of Appeals scrapped a similar order of the Bureau of Customs requiring various airlines to pay for overtime work rendered by customs personnel assigned at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).

The order required airlines to pay for the overtime pay, traveling, board and lodging expenses and/or meal allowance of customs personnel at NAIA.

The airlines complained that there was no due process in how the obligation to cover these expenses were imposed.