Dublin: Business, Employment and Retail Minister Damien English TD has announced changes to the work permit system for workers from outside the European Economic Area (EEA) to address skills shortages in Ireland's dairy, transport and home care sectors.
Minister English said:
"I am pleased to announce further changes to the work permit system that will help ease the recruitment challenges experienced by the agriculture, transport and home care sectors."
The changes, which come into effect from 16th December 2022, follow creative engagement between the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment; This follows a review of workforce challenges over the past months by the Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine, Department of Transport and Department of Health.
These measures will help ease the pressure faced by dairy farmers who struggle to source labor in the local economy. Evidence provided in consultation with ICMSA and the Farm Relief Service points to recruitment challenges and the introduction of this quota at a peak time is particularly welcome.
Actions on home carers follow the formation of a cross-departmental strategic workforce advisory group in March 2022 to examine strategic workforce challenges in home care and long-term residential care for older people, leading public and private care roles. The group's report contains 16 recommendations spanning the areas of recruitment, pay and conditions, barriers to employment, training, professional development and sector reform.
𝐇𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐫𝐬:
A quota of 1,000 employment permits for home carers.The minimum Salary for this role should be € 27000 with a 39-hour week. Minimum full QQI Level 5 qualification in health and social care or equivalent or successfully completed a full QQI Level 5 qualification (or higher qualification) in health and social care within 2 years of permit issue
𝐁𝐮𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐂𝐨𝐚𝐜𝐡 𝐃𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬:
Quota of 1,500 employment permits for bus and coach drivers. A minimum annual remuneration of €30,000 based on a 39-hour week is required. Drivers must hold driving licence categories D, DE, D1 and D1E or recognised equivalent
𝐃𝐚𝐢𝐫𝐲 𝐅𝐚𝐫𝐦 𝐀𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐭:
The quota of General Employment Permits for the role of dairy farm assistant has been increased by 500. A minimum annual remuneration of €30,000, based on a 39-hour week, is required.
- A quota of 1,000 General Employment Permits for the role of care workers and home carers has been introduced. This role is listed under code 6145 on the Standard Occupational Categorisation list. The permits will be issued for two years and require a minimum annual remuneration of €27,000 based on a 39-hour week, and a minimum full QQI Level 5 qualification in health and social care or equivalent or successfully completed a full QQI Level 5 qualification (or higher qualification) in health and social care within 2 years of permit issue. There will be a requirement for a 4-hour minimum continuous shift length.
- The quota of General Employment Permits for the role of dairy farm assistant has been increased by 500. A minimum annual remuneration of €30,000, based on a 39-hour week, is required.
- A quota of 1500 employment permits is being introduced for the role of bus and coach drivers. A minimum annual remuneration of €30,000 based on a 39-hour week is required, and drivers must hold driving licence categories D, DE, D1 and D1E or recognised equivalent.
- Occupations listed on the Critical Skills Occupations List are highly skilled professional roles that are in high demand and are not always available in the resident labour force. Occupations on this list are eligible for a Critical Skills Employment Permit (CSEP) and include roles such as medicine, ICT, sciences, finance and business. Special “fast-track” conditions attach to this permit type including the eligibility to apply to the Department of Justice for family members to accompany the permit holder immediately; and after two years may apply for permission to work without the requirement for an employment permit.
- Ineligible occupations are those with evidence that there are sufficient Irish/EEA workers to fill such vacancies. Employment permits are not granted for these occupations.
- Every other job in the labour market, where an employer cannot find a worker, is eligible for an employment permit. For these occupations, the employer is required to undertake a Labour Market Needs Test and if no-one suitable applies for the job, the employer is free to apply for an employment permit. Occupations such as these may be skills of a more general nature and are eligible for a General Employment Permit (GEP). This permit type is renewable and after five years the applicant may apply to the Department of Justice for long term residency permission.
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