Philippines imposes additional requirement from foreign workers

MANILA, Philippines — The government is imposing an additional requirement for all foreigners who intend to work in the country, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) said yesterday.

All foreign nationals will be required to secure a “no objection” certificate from DOLE as a requirement in the issuance of working permit and visa, according to Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III.

“Before the Bureau of Immigration (BI) can issue working permit or visa in the case of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), they have to secure a no objection certification from DOLE,” Bello said.

DOLE has committed to issue the certificate within three days once the foreign national has submitted all the necessary documents.

The new requirement for foreign workers is provided under a joint memorandum circular to be issued by the government.

The proposed joint circular, according to the labor chief, has been approved by concerned government agencies and is just awaiting President Duterte’s signature.

Last May 1, Bello issued new guidelines governing the issuance of alien employment permit (AEP) to foreign nationals intending to work in the country.

The new guidelines also identified 14 categories for the issuance of special work permit for foreign nationals who will work here for a period not exceeding six months.

Bello clarified that the soon-to-be-issued joint circular will cover all foreign workers in contrast to the guidelines he signed last May 1.

The government, he said, is expected to come out with the joint circular within the month.

The Bureau of International Revenue (BIR) had earlier issued an order requiring foreign nationals working in the country to secure tax identification numbers.

Bello gave assurance that the government is undertaking appropriate measures to protect Filipino workers’ gainful employment and welfare.

Shortage of nurses

Aside from construction workers, the DOLE yesterday reported that the country is also experiencing a shortage of nurses.

The Philippine Nursing Association (PNA) is seeking a slowdown in the deployment of nurses abroad to address the shortage of nurses in the country, according to Bello.

“All the while I thought we have an oversupply, but we have a shortage now because after graduating and completing two years of training, they go abroad,” Bello said.