KOROR (Palau Horizon) — The Senate has approved a bill that would limit the number of non-tourist entry permits issued to foreign nationals.
The measure was passed after the Senate Committee on Judiciary and Governmental Affairs said its enactment would comply with the recommendations contained in the Japan International Cooperation Agency Study for the promotion of Economic Development in Palau.
The JICA report noted concerns regarding the increased in the number of foreigners in Palau and the decreasing local birthrate.
The panel said the report supports the rationale behind the establishment of a quota on the number of non-tourist entry permits.
The JICA report stated that foreigners in Palau would soon outnumber locals.
To reverse the trend and ensure that the foreign population does not continue to grow, a cap should be set on the number of foreign workers, senators said.
The maximum quota set on non-tourist entry permits should not exceed 50 percent of the number of Palauan citizens based on the most recent census data available, the bill states.
