HCM City has temporarily stopped granting new work permits to foreigners arriving from COVID-19-affected areas. — VNA/VNS Photo for illustration.

HCM CITY — HCM City has announced that it will temporarily suspend the granting of new work permits to foreign workers arriving from COVID-19-affected countries and territories.

Lê Minh Tấn, director of the city's Department of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs, said this would support the city’s epidemic prevention and control efforts. 

To foreigners granted work permits, they must strictly undergo medical checks according to regulations and follow quarantine requirements given by the local authority if returning to the city from pandemic-hit areas, he said.

Those who apply to renew their foreign employees' work permits must have a valid passport showing they have not left the city since February 1, and have health certificates issued as of February 11.

The department has asked the Department of Foreign Affairs to inform diplomatic representative agencies, consular offices and representative missions of international organisations, businesses and foreign workers in the city that they must strictly comply with the regulations.

Authorities in localities have been asked to continue reviewing and controlling the number of foreign workers.

More than 4,600 foreign workers at 2,030 businesses in the city have been granted work permits. — VNS