Ireland witnesses surge of Indian workers amidst recent policy changes

In a positive development for Indian job seekers, Ireland granted an impressive total of 6,868 employment permits to Indian nationals during the first seven months of 2023, according to figures provided by the Irish government. These permits were granted across various sectors, including health and social work, information and communication, accommodation and food services, finance and insurance, agriculture, forestry, and fishing.

The employment landscape in Ireland has seen significant growth, with a total of 18,367 employment permits granted in the same period. However, it is noteworthy that 967 permits were refused, and 403 were withdrawn, reflecting the government’s commitment to ensuring a fair and balanced immigration system.

Earlier this year, the Irish government announced notable changes to the atypical working scheme, which facilitates short-term work contracts for nationals from non-EEA countries. The scheme allows individuals to work legally in Ireland for a short period. One of the crucial amendments made by the department of justice is the adjustment of the salary threshold for this programme. As of January 1, the minimum salary requirement for the scheme was raised to €30,000, aligning it with the conditions of the general employment permit.

With this new salary requirement, employers seeking workers under the atypical working scheme are now required to offer a minimum salary of €30,000 to eligible candidates. This step aims to ensure that employees are fairly compensated and to maintain the attractiveness of the Irish job market for foreign talent.

Additionally, the government has taken steps to reduce the wait time for obtaining permission under the atypical working scheme. As of this year, the permission period has been set at 90 days, allowing individuals to swiftly begin their short-term work commitments in the country.