New bill fails to provide for family, CCI warns

The Chambers of Commerce of Ireland has warned the new Employment Permits Bill lacks a clear path to citizenship and fails to provide for the spouses and partners of skilled migrant workers.

While welcoming the bill as a step in the right direction, CCI’s Seán Murphy said the bill fails to address two of the key impediments to attracting skilled migrant workers.

"The option for permanent residency, which is one of the most attractive elements of the US Green Card, should be an integral part of the new Irish system. This is necessary if we are to recruit talented workers to Ireland to ensure that they fully participate in Irish society as well as its economy.

“Furthermore CCI’s most recent Labour Force Survey identified difficulties in obtaining working visas for spouses as one of the key barriers to attracting and retaining highly skilled non-national workers in Ireland. This legislation should allow for the automatic provision of working visas for spouses.”

CCI says it will be making these views known to the Minister through consultation on the Bill.