work permit policy change of course to the detriment of the worker

national | worker & community struggles and protests | news report

Tuesday June 13, 2006 21:58

by Tobie*

There was been a change in work visa policy effect a weekago today - of course no one on these visa's were informed of this immidiate change in policy

"Policy on Exchange Visitor, Student or Working Holiday Visa Programmes

The purpose of these Exchange Programmes is to allow persons into the state for Working Holiday, Visit or Educational purposes for a specified period at the end of which they must return home.

The policy whereby persons on a Working Holiday Visa could transfer over to a work permit has now been discontinued with effect from Tuesday 6th June 2006."

Figuring out visa's, immigration and work permits is not a simple process. Reading through government websites just frustrates the hell out of anyone. By the time you figure it out you could work as an information officer and bore anyone with the ins and outs of the racist irish immigration system. Here we are once again with a policy change that the public were not given any notice of. One more hurdle to make it next to impossible to stay in Ireland legally.

Up until last week there was this way to get a work permit that skipped all the requirements set up to keep non-eu working class people out of the country. Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong, Canada and for short periods of time South Africa all have a visa called a holiday work visa. If you were working for an employer and were on this type of visa they could sponcer you with out meeting all the requirements.

This was the one chance to get sponcered outside of the "highly skilled, highly paid" areana. It was clearly a western privilege to start out with but this has been taken away. As of Tuesday June 6th this policy has changed. The only notice was put up on the Department of Entrprise, Trade and Employment website a few days before. This policy being implimented immidiately and effect everyone who is already on these visas.

Now that those on Working Holiday visa's can no longer transfer over to a work permit they must go throught a work permit procedure that ensures that next to no one can get in. Besides having to the job advertised on FAS for 4 weeks the government reminds employers of the size of europe and encourages them to look at european applicant first to fill positions.

"The recent expansion of the European Union has resulted in a very significant reduction in the number of new work permits being issued by this Department. Essentially, the Department will only consider new work permit applications from employers, where the employer is seeking to employ highly qualified or highly specific personnel and where there is also a demonstrable and verified shortage of such staff in the labour market.

While the FAS advertising procedure is the principal means by which we determine and verify labour shortages in the specific job categories applied for through the work permits system, the Department has determined that for the foreseeable future there will be no requirement to issue new work permits for anything but the most highly specialised vacancies. Generally, all other applications will be refused or returned."

They then give you an extensive list of jobs that they refuse outright to give work permits for. But what they really mean is that you can only get sponcered if you are in a "highly skilled, highly paid" position and what that traslates to is doctors, nurses and highly trained IT people. These exact words have come out of several voices in the work permits helpline. So basically anything outside of those regardless of your experience is considered invalid and you best be packing your bags 'cause your going home.

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Comments (7 of 7)

I can see the need for such a policy

by Kid

Tue Jun 13, 2006 22:49

The Government has handed out visas in the past like smarties. Its about time they changed that policy.

Some people.....

by Shane - SP (per cap)

Wed Jun 14, 2006 12:13

..... should really know better than to speak in public. I'm sorry 'kid' but visas have never been handed out like smarties in this country. The visa system that is in place is there to benefit the bosses and affords the worker very little rights. It is system that has more in common with indentured labour and is designed to alienate non-nationals and retard their integration into society. Please talk to some non-eu workers and ask them about the these wonderful sweeties the government is giving out.

More people

Thu Jun 15, 2006 00:45

Is that why the Gov't overhauled the old visa scheme so that unscrupulous Irish employers can no longer decide whether or not, their visa sponsored employee can stay in the country on condition that he/she work under the min wage?

"Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free"

by Karl

Sat Jul 08, 2006 02:51

I've been hit with this sudden change in policy - American strawberries in the EU shop, no one wants to buy them. I can understand and support the reasons behind the change, but it's implementation is horrendously incompetent. It is clearly a protectionist policy by the state to protect the EU labour market, while at the same time support a free-trade style labour market for the EU. Or perhaps, to reduce visa processing time. Worth to point out that the policy is setup in such as way as to only protect the EU's "unskilled" labour (whatever this means at any given time). The global, competitive, labour market has not arrived.

Question

by Lauren

Fri Jul 28, 2006 20:55

Hiya...I am wondering if you guys have any idea on where current work permit holders stand? I am currentyl sponsored by my work which happened before the new regulations though I now fall under an "inelligble" category....does this mean my employer wont be able to re-new the permit when the time comes beginning of next year???? Id appreciate any help....

Lauren

by Sam

Fri Jul 28, 2006 21:45

Ineligible categories only apply to new permits, not renewals.

For future reference check the Dept of Enterprise website.

educated workers and criminals being treated the same

by jane doe

Fri Dec 14, 2007 20:50

What really gets me about the Irish policy regarding migrant workers is that the system and regulations are designed to treat educated, highly trained people, who seek employment, housing, a mortage, etc the very same way as those who come to this country to live from the social welfare and clearly have no intention to lead a productive life or respect the law. I am not here to exploit the system, avoid paying my taxes, get involved in criminal activities, etc. I have been in Ireland for almost 8 years, getting an education (including a Master's), I am fluent in several European languages, I have integrated to Irish society and take part of the culture and traditions of the country (in fact, my partner is Irish). Now that my years in college are gone and my student visa is about to run out, I will either have to leave or marry my partner in order to stay because getting a work permit is practically impossible, even with all my qualifications. Is a Dr, a nurse or an IT technician a better citizen than I am? I doubt it. The fact that I am being forced to marry my partnet to stay here is horrendous, but I have no choice. If that is not unfair, then I don't know what is.

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work permit policy change of course to the detriment of the worker

Comments (7 of 7)