The Ministry of Labour granted about 25,000 work permits to foreigners in the first six months of 2015, about 5,000 more than they issued during all of last year.

Minister of Labour Ith Sam Heng yesterday partly credited the jump to a partnership with the Ministry of Interior.

“We have more people applying for employment cards,” Sam Heng said. “This is the result of cooperation between the Ministry of Labour and the Ministry of Interior.”

Sok Phal, director-general of the Interior Ministry’s General Department of Immigration, said his department is cracking down on employment card and other documentation violations.

From January to June, 1,600 foreigners were deported due to documentation issues, 98 per cent of whom were Vietnamese, Phal said.

“Foreigners and investors do not have the right to work here without employment cards,” Phal said.

“If they do not have employment cards, they will be fined $125, and if they still do not obtain a card, they will be jailed for three months and then expelled.”