A MIGRANT WORKER SPEAKS OUT
Migrants are often forced into difficult situations to obtain work permits, and this issue, while prevalent, rarely gets attention.
There are two main categories of permits: Critical Skills Work Permit and General Skills Work Permit. The key difference lies in the demand for the skill in the Irish job market.
The Critical Skills permit covers high-demand fields like IT and business, while the General Skills permit covers other jobs not listed in the ineligible employment list.
The 2024 salary requirements for these permits are:
– Critical Skills: €38,000
– General Skills: €34,000
In 2025, these will increase to €44,000 and €38,000, respectively.
While the government claims these requirements align with the cost of living, they have created significant barriers. Many companies, especially for entry-level roles, are unwilling to meet these salary levels.
Migrants, particularly recent graduates on Stamp 1G, are often hired with vague promises of sponsorship, only to be laid off or denied sponsorship when the time comes. This exploitation is widespread, as companies take advantage of their desperation.
I have personally faced these challenges, and after working for my current company for over a year, it took months of negotiation to secure sponsorship under the General Skills Work Permit.
If the 2025 salary requirement of €38,000 had been in place, my request would have been denied outright, regardless of my contributions to the company. As it stands, the system not only makes it difficult for migrants to secure stable and permanent employment, but also provides fertile ground for far-right and fascist narratives to thrive.
This fuels growing far-right rhetoric that positions migrants as a threat to the local job market. The salary requirements for permanent employment fuel these misconceptions, creating the false perception that migrants are benefiting at the expense of local workers. This narrative is not only misleading but dangerous, as it incites xenophobia, putting migrants at risk of discrimination and violence both in and outside the workplace.
Additionally, the visa application process is often burdensome, with companies sometimes shifting the responsibility onto employees adding extra pressure on top of full-time work.
In my case, I had to navigate the application process alone, including the unnecessary Labour Market Needs Test, which requires job advertisements to prove no EU citizen is available for the role. This is not only demeaning to migrants but also insincere to local workers who apply for these jobs in vain, only to be used as a formality to fulfill government requirements.
On top of that, migrants are required to pay an annual fee of €300 for their Irish Residence Permit (IRP) card, for any kind of visa permit. In my case, I also had to cover €500 out of the €1,000 cost for the General Skills Work Permit, as it is not mandatory for the company to bear this expense. These fees, while minor for some, are significant for many migrants, further complicating an already challenging process. Moreover, travelling abroad for work, such as business trips or conferences, can be highly complicated with the current visa situation, and in jobs where such travel is necessary, it can significantly impede career development.
Lastly, I want to highlight the significant mental toll this process takes on migrants. Constantly struggling with visa renewals, finding stable employment, and proving their worth for sponsorship creates a stressful, isolating experience.
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A note from the Trade Union Department:
The above was submitted by a worker in Ireland. This worker was not born here. But they are actively working, living and paying rent and paying taxeshere.
Almost 1 in 5 workers in Ireland in 2023 were not born in Ireland. They were born in other countries.
This is a very common situation.
Ireland’s EU status makes it is easier for those born in the EU to live and work here than the case above who like many were born outside the EU. The Common Travel Area we share with the UK makes work here completely accessible for British citizens. Workers from other countries also can access temporary work visas due to study arrangements for example.
Please note: No matter where you were born or what visa permission you have if you are working here, you have a right to trade union membership in Ireland.
You can avail of individual representation in Ireland under Article 40.6.1.3 of the Constitution.
Use your rights as a worker in Ireland. Join a trade union. It’s your right.
Don’t be isolated as a worker! Join, actively participate in, and build your union.
Contact the People Before Profit Trade Union Department in confidence: tu@pbp.ie
