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From 01 June 09 a number of changes have been made to the qualifying conditions for Work Permits. The main changes will see the use of more stringent labour market needs tests for all future work permit applications and renewals, basically endeavouring to maximise the number of positions being filled by Irish or EEA citizens. 

The main features of the new measures are:

Work Permits
* Making more job categories ineligible for new work permits such as work riders, domestic workers and HGV drivers, and there will be an ongoing assessment of other occupations regarding their continued eligibility
* No new permits will be issued for low-paid jobs (under €30,000 per annum)
* Changing the labour market needs test by doubling EURES/FAS advertisement of the job vacancy to 8 weeks, and national press advertisement to six days.
* Tougher conditions for the renewal of permits - higher fees and requirement for labour market needs test on renewal
* Spouses and dependants of principal work permit holders will have to apply for permits in their own right subject to the standard eligibility criteria and fees for Work Permits (currently spousal/dependant work permits are open to all job categories with no labour market needs test applied or fee charged)

Green Card List - Salaries paying €30,000-€60,000

A recent review of Green Card employment categories has shown that skills shortages no longer exist in respect of the occupations listed below. On that basis the following occupations are being removed, with immediate effect, from the Green Card eligible list where the annual salary for the job is in the range €30,000-€59,999:
- Healthcare: Registered midwives; physiotherapists; psychologists; social workers; medical physicists; and speech and language therapists.
- Financial Services: Economists; statisticians; underwriters; claims assessors and analysts; securities specialists; fund and investment management specialists; common law jurisdiction lawyers; investment fund professionals; fund accountants; fund valuations professionals; fund administrators; custody specialists; transfer agents; and hedge fund specialists.
- Industry/Services: Marketing Managers.

However these occupations will continue to be eligible for Green Cards where the salary payable to the jobholder is €60,000 or more per annum. For more information please contact us here at Resolve HR.