Minister of State Damien English has announced new changes to the employment permit system in Ireland which will greatly benefit people outside of European Economic Area (EEA). The changes include social workers eligible to apply for Critical Skills Employment Permit and construction sector workers now eligible for General Employment Permit.
The new announcements are with the intention to bring down the lack of skilled employees in the country especially in sectors such as animal farming, construction, hospitality and social work. The important changes that benefit non-EEA citizens and boost immigration are as follows:
- Construction sector jobs now eligible for a General Employment Permit
- Quota to be removed for HGV driver work permits
- 350 General Employment Permits for hospitality managers
- Social Workers to be eligible for Critical Skills Employment Permit
- Dispensing Opticians to be eligible for General Employment Permit
- New General Employment Permit quotas for 1,000 Horticulture Operatives, 500 Meat Deboners, 1500 Meat Processing operatives and 100 Dairy Farm Assistants; with a strategic review of labour attraction and retention in the sector to follow
- New General Employment Permit quota of 100 for Work Riders