Work permit issuance rules for foreigners likely to be streamlined

HCMC – The Ministry of Labor, Invalids, and Social Affairs has proposed allowing its provincial agencies to issue work permits for foreigners, a procedure which is believed to make employers more comfortable. The first option designates the Department of Labor, Invalids, and Social Affairs in each province as the sole agency responsible for overseeing foreign labor and issuing work permits within that province. The ministry recommended choosing the first one as this approach would simplify the work permit issuance procedure. Under the current rules, the provincial departments of Labor, Invalids, and Social Affairs, and the management boards of around 60 industrial parks and economic zones across the country can issue work permits. Among them, 111,949 are required to apply for work permits.