The Irish government has signed into legislation the Employment Permits Act 2024, which will be implemented by the Department of Trade, Enterprise and Employment on September 2, 2024.
Key Changes and What to Expect
Change of Employer: The change-of-employer rules have been relaxed for certain General Employment Permit and Critical Skills Employment permit holders.
- GEP and CSEP holders will be able to change employers after just 9 months of employment on their first employment permit as opposed to 12 months.
- Critical Skills holders will be able to change employers without needing a new work permit if the role comes under the same SOC code category (first three digits) i.e. engineering role – to engineering role.
- General Employment Permit holders can change employers if same SOC code (first four digits) so it must be the same role i.e. Business development to Business development. A new Labour Market Needs Test is not required.
- The maximum number of applications for change of employer has been set at three.
Progression within the role: The Employment Permit Act 2024 will allow for promotion and transfer within the same company without the need to undergo a new work permit where the permit holder would use the same skills without the need for a new employment permit.
Change in Labour Market Needs Test for General Employment Permit or Contract for Service Provider Employment Permit: The requirement for employers to place the adverts for vacancies in print media has been removed and the Act now provides for the publication of these adverts to be placed ‘on one or more online platforms’ in addition to the requirement for vacancies to be published with the Jobs Ireland/EURES websites operated by the Department of Social Protection.
The Foreign national must commence employment within a period of six months from when the permit is granted or comes into force.
Erickson Insights & Analysis
Erickson Immigration Group will continue to monitor developments and share updates as more news is available. Please contact your employer or EIG attorney if you have questions about anything we’re reporting above or case-specific questions.