FOREIGN NATIONALS with a job contract in the Philippines for at least six months may now start applying for a work permit,听the Department of Labor and Employment said on Sunday.听听

Applications for听Alien Employment Permit or COE Certificate of Exemption/Exclusion and work visas听for听鈥渆ssential foreign workers鈥澨齧ay be coursed through their听Philippine-based employer, Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III听said听in a news release.听听听

Mr. Bello earlier issued a circular on the issuance of permits for foreign nationals who want to stay in the country for听longterm听employment.听听听听

鈥淯nder the new guidelines, issuance of the work visa may be done at the Philippine Consulate General at the foreign national鈥檚 place of origin and will no longer require an entry stamp from the Department of Foreign Affairs,鈥澨齮he advisory stated.听听

The Philippine government has been criticized for hiring Chinese nationals for its infrastructure projects. The Department of Public Works and Highways last year admitted that Chinese workers have been employed for two China-funded projects in the country.听听

Lawmakers also earlier flagged that Chinese nationals had been working illegally in online gambling firms operating in the country.听鈥 Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza听听

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