No work permits for foreigners

STATIC MARVIN TORT

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I n the dictionary of government service, there is perhaps no word more destructive to progress than “indefinitely” When asystem stalls or when a processing unit ceases to function without a clear date of restoration, itis not merely a technical glitch; itis a suspension of service, of responsibility, of accountability to the public. And this is unacceptable.

Take the case of Alien Employment Permit (AEP) applications, which have reached this critical threshold. An advisory issued by the Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE) dated March 3 noted that the upgrading of the Alien Employment Permit Management System (AEPMS) is still “ongoing,” and that its “temporary inoperability” is “extended until further notice.”

The unkindest cut, of course, is this: “At present, there is no definitive timeline as to when the system will fully regain its functionality.” For now, all that DoLE can offer is its sincere apologies for any “inconvenience,” as it “respectfully requests understanding and cooperation” from the public.

No mention of alternatives or options, or any possible temporary workaround for applications already in process or those that are time-bound. I am uncertain as to when the upgrading process started, but in my book, an indefinite suspension of any government process or service is simply unacceptable. At the very least, give the publican idea of when the service will be restored.

By allowing essential public services to halt without a predictable timeline, the government is inadvertently sending a message to the global community: we are not open for business. And obviously, this adversely impacts any effort to attract more foreign investments or to invite foreign experts to work here.