Even with integration foreign workers in Phl still must secure permit

CEBU, Philippines – Even with ASEAN integration that enables free flow of skilled workers in the region, a labor official said foreign workers who want to work in the Philippines should still get an alien employment permit from the labor agency.

AEP is issued to foreign nationals seeking for employment in the country and any local or foreign employer looking for foreign workers.

Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz said that if a certain industry experiences shortage of workers, there is a need to open employment for foreign people.

“Kung may shortage, magluluwag tayo. We are not to remove the permit but we will do away with publication requirement,” the labor chief told The FREEMAN.

Normally, the AEP application goes through a publication requirement wherein the agency’s regional office will publish the application within two days. The public will have 30 days from the time of publication to defy the new employment of a foreign national.

Shortage

Baldoz noted several occupations in the country which have shortage of workers are made open to foreign skilled workers.

In its Skills Occupational Shortage List last year, the Department of Labor and Employment said Philippine jobs that lacked workers included architect, chemical engineer, pilot, environmental planner, medical technologist, sanitary engineer, chemist, etc.

The SOSL gives labor market signals to educational and training institutions to produce skills in jobs which are in shortage so Filipinos can answer to the demand for such skills in local industries.

It also promotes technology transfer and brain gain as it encourages overseas Filipino workers to consider filling in the existing gap in the labor market, the labor agency said.