The Tánaiste has announced the introduction of revised qualifying conditions for new work permits being sought by first-time entrants to the labour market. These changes are intended to come into effect from the 1st June 2009.

A key feature of the new arrangements will be the application of a tougher labour market needs test for all future work permit applications and renewals so as to allow the maximum opportunity for any available job vacancies to be filled from within the Irish labour market and wider EEA.

Main Features of New Work Permit Rules

The main features of the new work permit measures are:

Work Permits

* Making more job categories ineligible for new work permits (work riders, domestic workers and HGV drivers now ineligible), and an ongoing assessment of other occupational categories regarding their continued eligibility

* No new permits for low-paid jobs i.e. paying under €30,000 per annum

* Strengthening the labour market needs test by doubling EURES/FAS advertisement of the job vacancy to 8 weeks, and national press advertisement to six days.

* Tougher conditions for the renewal of permits – higher fees and requirement for labour market needs test on renewal

* Spouses and dependants of future principal work permit holders having to apply for permits in their own right subject to the standard eligibility criteria and fees for Work Permits (currently spousal/dependant work permits are open to all job categories with no labour market needs test applied or fee charged)

Green Card List – Salaries paying €30,000-€60,000

The Green Card list is reviewed periodically to ensure that it remains relevant to the needs of the Irish labour market.

Certain categories were previously removed from the €30,000-€60,000 list i.e. Quantity Surveyors, Building Managers, and some categories of Engineers and Architects.

A recent review has shown that skills shortages no longer exist in respect of the occupations listed by industrial sector below. On that basis the following occupations are being removed, with immediate effect, from the Green Card eligible list where the salary payable for the job is in the range €30,000-€59,999 per annum:

- Healthcare: Registered midwives; physiotherapists; psychologists; social workers; medical physicists; and speech and language therapists.

- Financial Services: Economists; statisticians; underwriters; claims assessors and analysts; securities specialists; fund and investment management specialists; common law jurisdiction lawyers; investment fund professionals; fund accountants; fund valuations professionals; fund administrators; custody specialists; transfer agents; and hedge fund specialists.

- Industry/Services: Marketing Managers.

These occupations continue to be eligible for Green Cards where the salary payable to the jobholder is €60,000 or more per annum.

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