Crackdown on visa racket

THE Government’s initiative to check if foreign-owned businesses and workers are complying with PNG laws should be praised.
Over the weekend, immigration officers and police conducted spot checks on seven lodges in Port Moresby and nabbed eight people who were suspected to be conducting disputable business activities that do not conform to regulatory standards including visa and permit obligations.
The checks on the weekend were conducted after two months of intelligence gathering.
About five years ago, a similar operation was conducted by Officers from the PNG Customs, Labour Department, Investment Promotion Authority, National Capital District Commission, Bank of PNG and police who uncovered that some foreigners were turning a blind eye to PNG’s rules and regulations or are either ignorant.
That operation was the result of public complaints about the influx of foreigners in the country and the fact that most were doing work supposed to be done by a local – selling betel nut on the streets, working in a road side shop, driving a forklift and the list goes on.
Labour then found most were paying their local employers K2.60 per hour which way below the minimum wage rate of K3.50 per hour.
It was also discovered that foreigners were being paid in cash by their employers to avoid paying tax.
Then you have unbanked cash, filthy and unhygienic kitchens; foreign companies allegedly avoiding paying taxes to the Internal Revenue Commission.
Since the operation started, the various teams have questioned a number foreign workers for allegedly breaching their work permits and visa conditions; uncovered a suspected prostitution racket involving Asian girls; abuse of local women employed by foreign-owned companies who were paid below the minimum wage rate; filthy kitchens of eateries; tax-evasion practices by companies; and unlicenced business operations.
More illegal activities were expected to be uncovered as this operations continue.
What they found in the provinces especially along the border centres could be more scandalous.
All this makes one wonder how they were allowed in the first place to enter this country.
They obviously had to apply for a visa and for some who hardly spoke an English word, it is just mind boggling trying to comprehend how visa and even work permits were granted in the first place.
If processes were followed and the ticks honestly done according to the checklist, this scenario would not have come about.
People have been sleeping on the job hence all this crept through the system undetected or signed with one eye closed.
The filth uncovered so far definitely is a wakeup call for an investigation or an enquiry into some government departments operations.
Those found guilty should be penalised and be deported.
The detection operation also shows a loophole in our system on the follow-up of compliance.
It seems once all paperwork were deemed to be in order; no one follows through on regular intervals hence when the foreigners noticed this pattern over time, they took advantage of negligence by the concerned authority
Someone has to cop the blame for the influx of foreigners, some of whom are occupying businesses reserved for locals and being involved in illegal activities.
Whoever they are, they should admit to the people that the situation today would not have come about if they had stuck to the rules and regulation of PNG.