Changes To The Employment Permits Act

On September 2, 2024, Ireland's Employment Permits Act, the biggest reform of Ireland's employment permits since 2006, went into effect. The changes are meant to create a more flexible system to respond to the evolving labor market in Ireland.

Another significant change includes the digitization of the labor market test, streamlining the hiring process by making it easier to prove that no local workers are available for the job. Employers will now submit job postings electronically through a centralized platform, which is expected to accelerate the application process.

The Act allows for employees to change employers after 9 months of employment instead of the previous 12 months. Among other restrictions, an employee can only change employers up to 3 times. In addition, when a foreign worker obtains a new employment permit, their old one is automatically canceled, eliminating unnecessary administrative burdens.