Foreign workers get green cards in crackdown

THE State will issue green cards to foreign workers for the first time, under a major reform of employment permits legislation to be announced next week.

Under the changes, thousands of high-skilled workers from outside the European Economic Area (EEA) will be granted green cards over the next decade.

The Employment Permits Bill 2005, brought to Cabinet last Tuesday by Enterprise and Employment Minister Micheál Martin, will also radically overhaul the work permits regime for foreign workers not entitled to green cards.