Spies? DOLE revises rules on foreign workers

Amid concerns over the presence of suspected Chinese spies, regulations on the employment of foreigners in the country have been revised by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).

- By MAYEN JAYMALIN

The new Alien Employment Permit (AEP) guidelines will rationalize requirements and streamline the processing of work permits for foreigners, Labor Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma said.

In the past three years, the DOLE has issued 192,573 AEPs to foreigners working in various local industries.

In 2023, AEP issuances rose to 69,912 from 62,349 and dropped to 60,312 last year.

Chinese nationals accounted for the bulk or 73,518 of total AEPs issued in the past three years.

Vietnamese, Japanese and South Koreans are in the top five nationalities given AEPs.

The DOLE cannot screen and determine if foreigners applying for AEPs are spies or not, Laguesma said.