The government of Ireland has perfected plans to entice Nigerians and other foreign workers with work permits.
The Minister of State for Business, Employment and Retails announces the largest ever expansion of our employment permits system, with 43 additional occupations becoming eligible for employment permits. From engineers, mechanics and electricians to meteorologist, butcher and bakers, these changes cross many sectors and will be of huge benefit to Irish businesses and society.
According to the Citizens Information Board, the scheme under the name ‘Critical Skills Employment Permit’ applies to countries outside the European Economic Area including the EU, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein, the United Kingdom, or Switzerland.
This skilled visa sponsorship allows applicants to come with their dependents and are also Eligible to become a permanent residence after some years.
On the 20th of December 2023, the Minister of State for Business, Employment and Retails announced another significant change to Ireland’s employment permits system. These changes include an increase in salary thresholds for permit holders and an additional 43 occupations becoming eligible for employment permits.
From 17th January 2024, the minimum salary for new General Employment Permits (GEP) will increase from €30,000 to €34,000. Employers seeking to hire GEP roles are advised should advertise this salary rate as Labour Market Needs Tests that do not reflect the appropriate salary will be rejected.
The new standard Critical Skills Employment Permit minimum salary requirement has also increased to from €34,000 to €38,000. Health care assistants and home carers salary requirement will increase from €27,000 to €30,000 and the minimum salary for meat processors and horticultural workers will increase from €22,000 to €30,000.
Additionally, a number of occupations have now become eligible for employment permits as of 20th December 2023.
Occupations added to the Critical Skills Occupations List include:
- Professional Forester
- Resource modelling, earth observation and data analyst
- Meteorologist
- Operational Forecaster
- Chemical Engineer
- Project Engineer
- BIM Manager
- Optometrist (Ophthalmic Optician)
- Commercial Manager
- BIM Coordinator/Technician
- Estimator Occupations eligible for a General Employment Permit:
- Residential Day and Domiciliary Case Managers – in Disability Services
- Play Therapist – in Disability Services
- Genetic Counsellor
- Social Care Worker
- Family Support Workers – in Disability Services
- Project Offices, Disability
- Support Worker (social, community, public and charity)
- Guide Dog Mobility Instructor for the Visually Impaired
- Autism Assistance Dog Instructor
- Pig Managers
- Smiths and forge workers
- Moulders, core makers and die casters
- Metal plate workers and riveters
- Car mechanic, Motor mechanic, Auto electrician, Motor vehicle technician
- HGV mechanic
- Vehicle body builders and repairers/Body shop panel beaters
- Electrician, electrical contractor, electrical engineer,
- Vehicle paint technician
- Skilled metal, electrical and electronic trades supervisors
- Upholstery and furniture operatives
- Butchers/(de)boner
- Baker
- Furniture makers and other craft woodworkers
- Senior Care Workers – in Disability Services
- Textile Process Operatives
- Wood Machine Operatives
- Saw Doctor/Wood Machine Mechanic
- Armature Rewinder
- Pig Farm Assistants
- Speciality Forestry Harvesting Technician
Further occupations which had previously been made eligible for General Employment Permits have had their quotas extended as follows:
- 1,000 GEPs for meat processing operatives
- 350 GEPs for butcher/debones.
- 350 GEPs for dairy farm assistants
- 1,000 GEPs have been provided for horticultural workers to support the sector until the introduction of the Seasonal Employment Permit.
For more enquiries about this opportunuty visit Cemcs travels desk today…………..