BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN: Five new policies on employing foreigners will be introduced soon. The implementation of the policies will be made in stages commencing on June 30, Brudirect reported.
The first phase will be implemented on wholesale businesses, restaurants, retail shops, supermarkets, department stores and automobiles.
The matter was disclosed by the Minister of Home Affairs at the Appreciation Dinner for Exemplary Employee and Employer last night. The first function of its kind was organised by the Department of Labour. It took place at the Chancellor Hall of University Brunei Darussalam (UBD). Yang Berhormat Pehin Udana Khatib Dato Paduka Seri Setia Ustaz Hj Awg Badaruddin Pengarah Dato Paduka Hj Awg Othman said the procedure is aimed at bringing down the number of unemployment and encouraging private firms to employ locals. It also enables employers to hire the most-needed foreign workers.
The five policies are; continuing the suspension of working permit and employment of foreign workers for the posts of cashier, driver, supervisors, salesperson, baker and butcher as well as taking the same step in other posts by phase in the retail market, information technology and others; decreasing the quota used on the current working permit and employment of foreign workers on the renewal date; limiting the new miscellaneous license that is considered branch out except for businesses that attract local employees; limiting the number of new license for conventional restaurants such as coffee shop; and not to produce license for businesses in the housing area except those carried out by its own applicants or local residents.
The minister also stated that the policy imposes additional levy to the recruitment of foreign employees for wholesale and retail, transportation, hotel and restaurants and support services sector. However, according to Yang Berhormat Pehin, ninety two thousand seven people from the figure was not included employees in the private service sector was based the quota used.
Eleven recipients comprising five employers and six local employees received the appreciation awards. Appreciation for employers and employees is based on specific criteria. Amongst others, for employers is number of the local employees at the company, while, for local employees, they should work not more than ten years at the company. This year, five sector categories that have been selected to given the appreciation award were restaurant, fast food catering, and automobile, wholesale and retailed sector and cleaning sector.