Firms urged to screen expatriates carefully bringim them her

EMPLOYERS in Papua New Guinea  spend a lot of money in bringing expatriates from overseas to work in the organisations so they have to screen them carefully.
This message was delivered by the executive manager of the Department of Labour and Industrial Relations Pius Lahari at Crown Plaza Hotel in Port Moresby on Monday to employers and officers of different organisations who attended the education and awareness seminar on requirements for work permits, employment agent  and PNG seasonal workers. 
He said for good corporate citizenship, there must be recognition given to organisations that have made an outstanding contribution to the development of PNG.
The benefits of good corporate citizenship include five years work permit; priority processing of work permits of 10 working days; GCC logos on the letter head; presentation of certificates and trophies and publishing of the new winners names on the national gazette.
Lahari said for  the work permit compliance and inspections, the authorised officers are appointed by the secretary of the department and the appointment are published in the government national gazette.
Employers or non- citizen employees may request an authorised officer to provide evidence of their appointment.
He said the authorised officer would at any time:
l    Enter and inspect any work place where a non-citizen is employed;
l    Examine any work done by a non-citizen and inspect any machinery, equipment and facilities used by the non- citizens;
l    Ask questions and request information about non-citizen worker; and
l    Examine any work permit or work permit car. 
A penalty of K10,000 is imposed on breaching of these conditions on the work permit.
“Employment is prohibited whilst on business visa, dependent visa or any other visa except employment visa and companies will be penalised K30,000 if they fail to comply with this rule,” Lahari said.
He said the consultants must be issued a valid work permit before commencing employment and a notice of the penalties would be issued to the companies and organisations that are found to be in breach of the foreign employment laws under employment of non citizens Act 2007 and employment of non citizens regulations 2008.