With the adoption of the Employment Permits Bill changes, Fragomen urges Irish businesses to take employment immigration compliance seriously

• Irish businesses are urged to consider the implications of the Employment Permits Bill, as compliance remains at the forefront of the political and legislative agenda.
•  Government advises that Inspections are likely to increase, and non-compliance can result in fines and even court convictions

The Employment Permits Bill is set to be approved bringing about a series of changes in how businesses can attract and employ global talent. Understanding these changes and compliance from the part of both Irish businesses and employees is key to avoiding costly fines and other penalties which may be triggered by non-compliance.

Stephen McCrea, Senior Immigration Manager with Fragomen Ireland said “With the changes brought about by the Employment Permit Bill, a number of key areas are likely to be updated, bringing multiple employment regulations into one comprehensive bill."

These are the main points of the Bill:

1. Consolidating and making flexible years of previous legislation into one clear and concise Act. It means the Government will be in a place to effectively and quickly respond to changes in the labour market without the need to pass primary legislation to do so.
2. The removal of paper-based advertising of roles for the Labour Market Needs Test will be a very welcome change- it will be less costly for employers and more impactful in terms of attracting necessary talent.
3. The introduction of the Seasonal Employment Permit is another welcome development- it will offer a clear pathway for companies in areas like horticulture while balancing the rights and interests of employees in this important sector to the Irish economy.”

The changes in the Employment Permits Bill come as the Irish government has noted the enforcement of immigration compliance in the workplace will be more significant, to ensure adherence to national immigration laws and minimise the illegal employment of foreign nationals. Non-compliance with Employment Permits legislation carries a number of penalties, including fines.

To increase the awareness and preparedness level of Irish businesses with regards to the changes in the employment legislation, Fragomen held an event entitled ‘Attracting Global Talent – Immigration Considerations for Growing Your Business’, hosted at Dublin Chamber earlier this month.