Bureau of Immigration Director Jenkins Mariur, said the two Filipino workers were apprehended for working without valid permit.
Mariur who refused to disclosed the names of the two male workers, said one of the Filipino national is performing a part-time job which is a violation of the labor law.
He said the man was staying in the country for more than a year with an expired working permit. He was formerly employed in a Japanese Company in 2008. But since the company closed down he did not apply for a new job. But instead he is doing a part-time job . He was fined $500.
The other Filipino, Mariur said has a pending permit. He said the man is working in a local construction company but his employer did not process his working permit at the Labor Office.
Mariur said the Filipino worker will pay $500 for violation of immigration law while his employer will also pay $20. But the accumulated days to be paid by the Filipino employer is 150 days which started on January 19.
Under the immigration regulations the employer will also be penalized. The employer’s penalty is $20 per day, counted from the day of the expiration until the day they were charged.
On Wednesday the two Filipino workers were released and the Immigration office has given them 10 days to pay their fine and process their repatriation.
The two are now staying in their barracks in Topside.
The Philippine Embassy for its part said that they looked into the matters but the two Filipino workers did not seek help to the office.
Philippine Ambassador to Palau Ramoncito Mariño said the two workers will shoulder their fines as well as their employer.
In line with this, the Bureau of Immigration (BOI) is now appealing the public to have their visa updated.
BOI says, the Immigration is now looking into individuals whose visas have expired or are overstaying. The Border Management System (BMS) is the system that have been implemented and now being utilized in tracking the records of foreigners on the island.
The Immigration wants to remind the public that the penalty is quite expensive
He added that the office would also want to remind the public that they can come to the office if their employee’s visa has expired.
Bureau of Immigration Office is located on MOJ building on the 2nd floor of the police station and office phone no. is 488-2498/678 and also listed on the phone book.
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