On the 20th December, the Minister of State for Business, Employment and Retail, announced significant changes to the jobs eligible for an employment permit as well as increasing salary thresholds.
Among the main changes to the employment permits system are 11 new occupations listed on the highly skilled occupations list which are as follows:
- Professional Forester
- Resource modelling, earth observation and data analyst
- Meteorologist
- Operational Forecaster
- Chemical Engineer
- Project Engineer
- BIM Manager
- Optometrist (Ophthalmic Optician)
- Commercial Manager
- BIM Coordinator/Technician
- Estimator
Furthermore, the good news is that 32 occupations have been removed from the list of ineligible occupations which are as follows:
- Residential Day and Domiciliary Case Managers – in Disability Services
- Play Therapist – in Disability Services
- Genetic Counsellor
- Social Care Worker
- Family Support Workers – in Disability Services
- Project Offices, Disability
- Support Worker (social, community, public and charity)
- Guide Dog Mobility Instructor for the Visually Impaired
- Autism Assistance Dog Instructor
- Pig Managers
- Smiths and forge workers
- Metal plate workers and riveters
- Car mechanic, Motor mechanic, Auto electrician, Motor vehicle technician
- HGV mechanic
- Vehicle body builders and repairers/Body shop panel beaters
- Electrician, electrical contractor, electrical engineer
- Vehicle paint technician
- Skilled metal, electrical and electronic trades supervisors
- Upholstery and furniture operatives
- Butchers/(de)boner
- Baker
- Furniture makers and other craft woodworkers
- Senior Care Workers – in Disability Services
- Textile Process Operatives
- Wood Machine Operatives
- Saw Doctor/Wood Machine Mechanic
- Armature Rewinder
- Pig Farm Assistants
- Speciality Forestry Harvesting Technician
New minimum salary thresholds have also been announced for General and Critical Skills permits which will take effect from 17th January 2024. Among these changes are the following:
- General Employment will increase from €30,000 to €34,000 in 2024
- Critical Skills with a degree will go from €32,000 to €38,000 in 2024
- Critical Skills without a degree (but with significant experience) remains at €64,000
The other good news is that several occupations which had previously been made eligible for General Employment Permits (GEPs) have had their quotas extended. They are as follows:
- 1,000 GEPs for meat processing operatives
- 350 GEPs for butcher/deboners
- 350 GEPs for dairy farm assistants
- 1,000 GEPs have been provided for horticultural workers to support the sector until the introduction of the Seasonal Employment Permit
Therefore, if you wish to apply for an employment permit or renew, pay attention, because from 17th January the above guidelines must be followed.
For any inquiries about these changes, work permit and immigration matters in general, please feel free to contact us at info@mcgrathmullan.ie or call us at 01-8735012.