(Eagle News)–Authorities on Wednesday, May 1, finalized the guidelines for the issuance of work permits to foreign nationals, amid the influx of Chinese workers in the country.
Under the guidelines signed by Justice Secretary Menardo I. Guevarra, Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III, Immigration Commissioner Jaime Morente, among others, the Bureau of Immigration may only issue a special work permit to an alien who intends to work in the country outside of an employment arrangement, Justice spokesperson Markk Perete said.
“Meanwhile, an alien intending to work pursuant to an employment arrangement is required to obtain an (alien employment permit) from the (Department of Labor and Employment),” Perete said.
He said an AEP will “issue only if no Filipino is available to perform the work which the foreign applicant seeks to discharge.”
According to Perete, pending issuance of the AEP, the “alien may work in the country only if he or she has secured from the BI a (provisional work permit) which has a maximum effectivity of six (6) months only.”
“Applicants for work and employment permits are required to obtain Tax Identification Numbers from the (Bureau of Internal Revenue),” he added.
The signing of the guidelines was held at the Kingsborough International Convention Center in San Fernando, Pampanga.
