Follow Japan visa regulations, workers told

The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) warned Filipino workers of the severe penalties foreigners may face for violating Japan’s law on the proper use of its visa and residence status.

POEA Administrator Bernard Olalia said the consequences, other than detention and deportation, may include a prison term and a ban to reenter Japan.

Olalia issued the warning on Tuesday after the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (Polo) in Tokyo reported that some Filipino nationals were involved in unqualified activities in violation of the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act of Japan.

“Unqualified activity includes taking (on) a job which is beyond the limitation of the visa, or (taking on) permitted work under the category of residence status of a foreigner in Japan,” he said.

The POEA cited the report of Labor Attaché Marie Rose Escalada about engineers with engineering/humanities/international services visa who, however, worked as laborers, machine operators or kitchen helpers.

Filipino workers in Japan may contact Polo Tokyo through its email address [email protected] or Facebook page facebook.com/poloowwatokyo.