It will be easier for more people who are working on mainland China to change jobs or move among cities there in the future, after Beijing said on Friday it would abolish the work permit requirement for employees from Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan.
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No More Tedious
Application Procedures!
The change means workers from those three locations of Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan, no longer need additional documentation to take up jobs on the mainland.
© Image | 大公报
Companies can also escape the tedious application procedures. Previously, they would have to help employees submit up to 10 items of paperwork to get a work permit from a municipal human resources department.
They Faced Real Hurdles In
Working Across the Border Before
The permits were not portable and employees would need a new one each time they switched jobs or cities. Local human resource experts and politicians welcomed the announcement by the State Council, China’s cabinet, described it as symbolic, adding that Hongkongers still faced real hurdles in working across the border.
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For example, unlike residents living in mainland, they have to pay full prices for medical services in public hospitals before seeking reimbursement from social security insurance, if it is provided by their employers.
In a brief statement on Friday, the State Council said:
“Following the abolishment, the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security will introduce supporting measures to further facilitate Hong Kong and Macau residents to work and start a business on the mainland.”
Work Permit System
for These Regions
The work permit system, in place since 2004, is similar to the working visa for foreigners in Hong Kong. Mainland firms must prove that the Hong Kong, Macau or Taiwan residents they want to hire are uniquely qualified and that the positions they are hiring them for cannot be filled by a local.
“This measure could enable Hongkongers to freely choose their professions just like other mainland residents, and will also prevent mainland enterprises from refusing to recruit Hongkongers due to complicated procedures,” it said in a statement.
© Image | SCMP
The government also called on Beijing to roll out more measures to help Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan residents on the mainland with their employment as well as education, medical and elderly care needs.
After hearing the news of the abolishment of work permit requirement for employees from Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan. Many foreigners working in China are wondering whether this new policy also affects the work permit system for them? So far, there is no official news about any change in the current work permit system foreigners.
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Source: SCMP
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