SEC calls for review of laws governing alien employment

CEBU, Philippines- An official from the Securities and Exchange Commission has called for a review on the laws that govern the practice of foreign professionals in the Philippines amid the regional integration of ASEAN economies.

SEC Cebu Securities Counsel Alma Dalena said an integrated economy should imply a reduction of restrictions on professionals from other nations seeking to practice in the Philippines.

Dalena said that 2015 is “going to be a hard year” for allowing foreigners to practice their profession in the country because there are still existing laws that are restrictive to Filipino citizens.

While several talks on this matter have already been done, Lawyer Dalena noted it’s not yet clear what the role of SEC registration on overseas professionals looking for partnerships here would be.

It can be recalled the Professional Regulation Commission already signed mutual recognition agreements with some of its ASEAN counterparts to allow Filipino professionals do their jobs in other Southeast Asian nations.

However, Dalena pointed out specific laws regulating professions have bias in favor of Filipinos although these are not necessarily stringent legal hurdles to the entry of foreign professionals.

Most of these laws have reciprocity provisions that allow foreigners to practice here, that if their countries of origin also permit Filipinos to do the same.

The PRC said licensed professionals need to register as ASEAN professionals as part of the MRA which aims for a competitive labor market within the economic bloc.

MRA recognizes the professions of accountants, doctors, dentists, nurses, architects, engineers and surveyors.  

In a previous interview, Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz said foreigners who want to work in the Philippines still need to have an employment permit even with the ASEAN integration.

In the same way that PRC also requires them to get temporary permit to practice.

Baldoz said there is a need to open the local labor market to foreign people to fill in job vacancies in industries that could experience shortage of workers. 

While the presence of foreign practitioners is seen to boost up competition, they can also bring in new ideas, skills and technical knowledge.  (FREEMAN)