Name of the Organization : PNG Department of Labour & Industrial Relations
Type of Facility : PNG’s Work Permit System
Country : Papua New Guinea
Website : workpermits [dot] gov [dot] pg
PNG’s Work Permit System
General Guide to PNG’s Work Permit System:
These Guidelines provide instructions to employers about how to apply for a work permit for a non-citizen worker. They also contain other useful information about the Work Permit System which will assist clients in their dealings with the Department.
Related : National Agriculture Quarantine & Inspection Authority Import Permits Application Papua New Guinea : www.statusin.org/8145.html
The information is presented in a user-friendly style and ‘helpful hints’ are included to explain potentially confusing rules or requirements.
The Work Permit System which is explained in these Guidelines is uniquely Papua New Guinean. It is the result of extensive consultation with stakeholders, particularly the business community. It is also a system which must continually evolve to meet the changing requirements of our labour market. For this reason, the Department welcomes feedback from all stakeholders about how we might improve the way in which we approach the regulation of foreign employment in Papua New Guinea.
These Guidelines should be read in conjunction with the Guide to the Foreign Employment Industrial Divisions and Classification of Occupations which is also available for download from this website.
Guide to Classification of Occupations & Industrial Divisions:
This Guideline is particularly important because there are certain rules surrounding the employment of foreigners in Papua New Guinea. These requirements have been part of our foreign employment laws since 1972.
The Department is very sympathetic to the needs of the business community. This Guideline has been developed in consultation with representatives of business to ensure that it does not create unnecessary impediments to doing business in our country.
On the other hand, the Department has an obligation to ensure that the work permit system also looks after the interests of Papua New Guineans and certain jobs are protected for citizens.
As a general rule, all managerial, professional and highly skilled jobs are open to non-citizen employees. Certain other occupations must be advertised in the local press first before a non-citizen worker can be engaged. Occupations which do not require a particular qualification or skill are generally reserved for citizen workers.
The arrangements outlined in these Guidelines will be reviewed regularly and, if necessary, a new Guideline may be issued from time to time.
These Guidelines should be read in conjunction with the Work Permit Guideline:
A General Guide to the Foreign Employment System in Papua New Guinea which can also be downloaded from this website.
Refund Policy
All application fees are non-refundable and non-transferable.
What this means is that if a work permit application is refused then the application fee will not be refunded. Likewise, if an application is subsequently withdrawn, the application fee will not be refunded.
At the same time, if work permit holder departs PNG prior to the expiration of his or her work permit, then the work permit fee paid for that work permit is not transferable to another employee. The employer may recruit another non-citizen in the same position but they will have to pay the full fee.
Fees
The various fees charged under the Act are contained in Schedule 7 to the Regulation.
Fees must be paid by way of a bank cheque made out to the Department of Labour and Industrial Relations. You must retain the receipt as proof of payment. Payment will be taken to be made only when the cheque is honoured on presentation.
At the time of publication of these Guidelines, the fees are as follows:
** Application for General Work Permit K1000.00 for each year of work permit
** Application for Volunteer Work Permit K100.00 for each year of work permit
** Application for Bridging Work Permit K100.00
** Application for General Short Term Work Permit K500.00
** Application for Volunteer Short Term Work Permit K50.00
** Application for Renewal of General Work Permit K1000.00 for each year of work permit
** Application for Renewal of Volunteer Work Permit K100.00 for each year of work permit
** Duplicate Work Permit K100.00 for each copy
** Duplicate Work Permit Card K100.00 for each copy
** Lodging an Appeal K50.00
** Copy of the Employment of Non-citizens Guidelines ** K25.00 for each copy
Contact
First Assistant Secretary,:
Human Resource Development and Employment Promotion
Tel: (675) 323 5758
Fax: (675) 325 6655
Assistant Secretary:
Foreign Employment Division
Tel: (675) 325 2911
Fax: (675) 325 6655
Postal Address:
P.O. Box 5644, Boroko, NCD, Papua New Guinea
Email: enquiries AT workpermits.gov.pg
Office Location:
Moale Haus, Melanesian Way, Waigani, NCD
(Co-located with the PNG Imigration and Citizenship Service)
View Comments (3)
How does Bridging permit work? When does this come into use?
Employment of foreigners ( skilled workers) from non English spoken countries. Is there a form to fill, so that they could be exempt to do the IELTS test? Note that these foreigners don't even know English at all.
About the application for New work permit form, since it has been updated, what needs to be written in the section where it says, Employment Agent/company representative details? There are questions asked about this section.