Non-EEA nationals

Hiring Legislation

The Employment Permits Bill 2022 is a proposed new law that will modernise and streamline the employment permits system in Ireland. The Bill is currently under consideration by the Oireachtas and is expected to be enacted in late 2023 or early 2024.

Need to Know:

The Bill proposes several changes to the existing employment permits system, including:

• Introduction of a new seasonal employment permit: This permit will be available to non-EEA nationals who are coming to Ireland to work in seasonally recurrent employment, such as agriculture, tourism, and hospitality.
• Revision of the labour market needs test: The Bill proposes to make the labour market needs test more relevant and efficient. This will involve streamlining the process for assessing whether there is a genuine need for a non-EEA national to fill a particular role.
• Moving of operational criteria to regulations: The Bill proposes to move several operational criteria from the legislation to regulations. This will give the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment greater flexibility to adapt the system to changes in the labour market.
• Streamlining of requirements: The Bill proposes to streamline the requirements to make the grant process more efficient. For example, the Bill proposes to reduce the number of documents that employers need to submit when applying for an employment permit.

In addition to these changes, the Bill also proposes to introduce new conditionalities attaching to the grant of an employment permit. These conditionalities are designed to increase apprenticeship and training opportunities and, hence, reduce future reliance on the employment permit system.

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Key Facts for Businesses and Hiring Professionals:

The following are some of the key facts about the changes to work permits in the proposed Employment Permits Bill 2022 that are most relevant to businesses and hiring professionals:

• The new seasonal employment permit will be a valuable tool for businesses in sectors such as agriculture, tourism, and hospitality that rely on seasonal workers.
• The revised labour market needs test will make it easier for businesses to get employment permits for non-EEA nationals to fill critical roles.
• The streamlining of requirements will make the employment permits process more efficient for businesses.
• The new conditionalities attaching to the grant of an employment permit will help to ensure that businesses are investing in training and development for their employees.

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Conclusion:

Overall, the proposed Employment Permits Bill 2022 is a positive development for businesses and hiring professionals in Ireland. It will make the employment permits system more flexible, efficient, and responsive to the needs of the Irish economy.

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Additional Tips:

Here are some additional tips for businesses and hiring professionals who are planning to apply for employment permits under the new Bill:

• Start planning early. The employment permit process can take several weeks or even months, so it is important to start planning early.
• Make sure you meet all the requirements. Carefully review the requirements for the type of employment permit you are applying for and make sure that you meet all of them before submitting your application.
• Prepare your application carefully. The employment permit application form can be complex, so it is important to take your time and prepare it carefully.
• Be responsive to requests from the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment. If the Department has any questions about your application, be sure to respond promptly and provide all the information that is requested.

By following these tips, businesses and hiring professionals can increase their chances of success in getting employment permits for non-EEA nationals.