MANILA - The Bureau of Immigration on Wednesday said it will require foreign nationals applying for work permits to submit additional documents following a reported increase in the number of foreigners employed locally to the alleged detriment of Filipino workers.

The bureau will ensure that foreigners will not be employed as construction workers, cashiers, janitors, carpenters and in other blue-collar jobs, said Immigration Commissioner Jaime Morente.

Foreign applicants for regulated professions should also have the approval of the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC), he said.

"This is to ensure that these work permits are issued only to aliens whose jobs could not be performed by Filipinos," Morente said in a statement.

Applicants should submit documents stating the validity of stay, their address, nature of business, financial viability of petitioning company and government licenses to operate, he said.

Only authorized Immigration officers at the main office and alien control officers in field offices may approve applicants for special and provisional work permits, he said.