working papers
- noun
- Formal
:
permisos de trabajo
- Immigrants often need to provide working papers when applying for employment.
Examples
-
You need to submit your working papers before starting the job.
-
The company would not hire her without valid working papers.
-
Many students under 18 must obtain working papers before starting a part-time job.
-
Have you received your working papers yet?
-
The company verified her working papers to ensure she was eligible for the position.
-
To work legally in this country, you must obtain working papers that prove your eligibility.
-
He presented his working papers to the employer to show he had the right documentation to be hired.
Synonyms
165
5.3
An official paper that shows a person's identity or qualifications
23
1.9
Official documents that show who you are or give legal information
18
3.1
An official paper that records an agreement, right, or contract
11
3.2
Official paper that lets a person from another country work in that country for a time
5
3.3
A record issued by an authority that shows a legal agreement or gives a right
1
4.3
Official documents that show a person may have a job, often for immigrants or young workers
Surface Forms
Morphology
The phrase composes 'working' (related to work) + 'papers' (documents), so a learner who knows both words will naturally infer 'documents related to working' — which maps onto the legal/authorization sense. Although one specific sense ('working paper' as an academic draft) exists, the primary, job-related interpretation is transparent and cross-linguistically plausible.
Etymology
Working papers are official forms that show a person may work. The word working shows the forms are about 'work' and papers are the documents you give to an employer, so they are needed as proof that someone can 'work'.