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Philippine Foreign Service Posts in China
are advising Filipinos to be wary of illegal recruiters promising
high-paying jobs in China. A growing number of Filipinos have become victims
of Filipino and foreign illegal recruiters enticing Filipinos to work in
Shanghai and other cities in China. They have ended up either underpaid,
jobless, or jailed for staying illegally or beyond their visa validity.
There are openings for foreign workers in
the skilled, technical and professional categories, but none for domestic
service. All companies and institutions seeking foreign workers need to be
authorized to do so by the Chinese government represented by the Municipal
Labor and Social Security Bureau. While it is true that there are positions
available for example, for English teachers in China, not all schools are
authorized by the Chinese government to hire foreign teachers. Most of the
cases of contract breaches and illegal recruitment involve unauthorized
schools and fly-by-night recruitment agencies who hire Filipino teachers via
the internet or by telephone.
A foreigner has to hold a “Z” visa
(working) in order to come to China and apply for a work permit to work
legally in China. Filipinos intending to work in China must have the
following documents in order to get a “Z” visa(working) from the
Chinese Embassy in Manila or the Chinese Consulate General in Cebu and
Laoag:
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A
Visa Notice issued by the Municipal Foreign Economic and Trade
Commission or a appropriate Chinese government unit; and
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An Alien Employment License (for those being hired by companies)
issued by the Municipal Labor and Social Security Bureau.
A “Z” visa (working) given by
the Chinese Embassy or Consulate is valid only for 30 days.
During the 30-day period, the holder of a “Z” visa must immediately go
through residential formalities with the local public security bureau and
the hiring company must process the Alien Employment Permit. It is only when
the employee has the permit can he start working.
It is emphasized that the Alien
Employment Permit is issued for employment with a specified company only.
Employees cannot accept employment elsewhere by using the Alien Employment
Permit at hand.
Business "F" visa
holders are given to foreigners who wish to participate in a
business conference, short-term course, on-the-job training, or
scientific-technological and cultural exchanges for a period not longer than
six months. “F” visa holders cannot work legally in China.
This visa class is for foreigners traveling temporarily to China for
business purposes or as their company representative, and does not allow the
holder to take full-time employment.
A tourist "L" visa cannot be
converted to working "Z" visas or Business "F" visas. "L" and "F" visa
holders who insist on working in China have little protection from abuse or
mistreatment, with or without the presence of employment contracts.
The Philippine Foreign Service Posts in China are also warning Filipinos
against recruiters who lead them to believe that they can obtain European or
United States visas in Shanghai upon payment of a huge fee. Consulates of
the United States and European countries, as a policy, do not grant visas to
tourists (tourist "L" visa holders). One has to be a resident of China to be
entitled to apply for a Schengen or US visa in China. In cases reported,
Filipinos holding fake Schengen or US visas end up being deported back to
Shanghai or Manila by European or US immigration officials. END |
