Accession immigrants to get work priority
Roughly 40,000 work permits have been issued annually in recent years. However, with increasing job losses looming the Department of Enterprise Trade and Employment earlier this year restricted the categories of professionals allowed to apply for permits.
Yesterday’s announcement is required as part of the EU Accession Treaty, which was signed on April 16, 2003. The treaty obliges member states to give preference to applications from citizens of the 10 states due to officially join the EU in May next year.
Under the Employment Permits Act which came into force in April all nationals from countries joining the EU will have freedom of movement for work purposes after accession next year.
The Tánaiste yesterday welcomed the prospect of a new significant source of labour to become available to Irish employers, saying the new changes should assist businesses who have not been able to find staff in Ireland or the EU.
The Department of Enterprise Trade and Employment also announced yesterday that it had decided to reduce the list of professionals not permitted to apply for an Irish work permit following a review of the operation of the restrictions introduced earlier in the year.
From now until December international HGV and articulated drivers, aircraft mechanics/engineers, fish processors and plasterers will be allowed to apply to work in Ireland.
The changes mean an employer can apply for a work permit to employ a non-EU individual in the above categories as long as no suitably qualified Irish person is available. Categories still off bounds to non-EU workers include the hotel sector, clerical and administrative workers, general labourers and operator and production staff.
l Employers wishing to ascertain if their vacancy falls into an eligible/ineligible category can do so through FÀS Jobs Ireland at 1850 667766.
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
