The sources quoted Interior Ministry deputy-director Nouv Leakna as saying that once in-country these foreigners could then apply for one-year extensions to the visas. The general continued by saying that the crackdown also applied to expats without work permits.
Cambodia’s Labour Law enacted in 1997 strictly prohibits any foreign nationals from taking up employment in the country unless they have official work permits. The Interior Ministry has been lax in enforcing this in the past, but general Leakna says this is now a thing of the past.
The general says any foreigner caught working without a permit will be subject to a KHR500,000 (US$124) fine and have to pay US$100 for the permit. He added that employers were liable for the fines and the only get-out clause is if the foreigner had signed a contract saying he or she would pay the cost of the permit.
Deputy-director Leakna continued by saying that ministry staff would return after six months. If any foreigner still had not got a work permit, he or she would be deported.
He finished off by saying work permits were issued by the Labour Ministry and took about 30 days to process. Ith Sam Heng, the labour minister, stated two weeks ago that foreign nationals faced backdated fines of US$77 for every year they had been working in Cambodia without proper permits.
Cambodia gets tough on expat visas and work permits
News in Asia
Cambodia’s Interior Ministry is planning a crackdown on expat visa and work permit abuse. Local media sources in the country report that starting from next week, newcomers planning on staying long term will have to enter the country on a one-month business-class visa.