Due to concerns raised by the public, PNG Immigration officers carried out a surprise spot check on foreigners working at Paga Hill, Port Moresby.
Chief Migration Officer, Mataio Rabura, says he sanctioned the operation on the site and other locations where foreigners were employed by China Harbour Ltd.
Backed by the Royal PNG Constabulary, the operation was carried out on October 1 ‘without prior notice to the company’.
“A total of 89 foreigners working at Paga Hill, and three other locations, had their passports collected and checked,” Rabura said in a statement.
“The investigation revealed that their travel documents and PNG employment visas were in order and lawful. Therefore we released them.
“Similar operations will be conducted by the taskforce over the coming weeks to ensure foreigners working in the country have proper travel documents and work visas.”
Rabura also clarified that any foreigner who enters the country to work is issued work permits by the Department of Labour and Industrial Relations.
“The Department for Labour approves which positions these foreigners can occupy, not the Immigration Authority,” stressed the chief migration officer.
“Therefore any complaints about foreigners occupying positions that should be occupied by citizens should be directed to the Department of Labour and Industrial Relations.”
He further thanked the Police for their professional support and commitment towards the success of the operation, and China Harbour Ltd for their cooperation.
(Picture: Nir Elias/Reuters)