Ireland Introduces 150 New Work Permits for Sea Fishers to Address Labour Shortages
The Irish government has announced a new initiative to issue 150 work permits for sea fishers as part of efforts to tackle labour shortages in the seafood industry. This change makes non-EEA nationals eligible for General Employment Permits, with a minimum annual salary of €34,000. This move aligns sea fishers with other non-EEA workers in Ireland, offering them the same employment benefits.
Emer Higgins, Minister of State for Business, Employment, and Retail, expressed her enthusiasm about expanding the employment permit system to include sea fishers. She stated, “This quota will help address the labour shortages in this critical sector. As Ireland reaches full employment with over 2.7 million people working, some specialized skills, like sea fishing, remain hard to fill.”
Ireland’s Employment Permit System provides pathways for non-EEA nationals to fill gaps in the workforce, particularly in professions listed on the Critical Skills Occupations List. While some jobs are only available to Irish and EEA nationals, the Employment Permit System opens up opportunities for non-EEA workers when local candidates cannot be found.
The decision to offer 150 permits follows recommendations from a cross-governmental group to include sea fishers in the Employment Permit System. This initiative seeks to bridge gaps in the Irish workforce by allowing non-EEA nationals to apply for jobs in sectors where domestic and EEA workers are insufficient.
As part of a broader effort to address labour shortages, the Irish government has also seen a notable rise in the number of work permits granted. In the first half of 2024, there was a 20% increase, with 19,303 work permits issued, especially in sectors such as healthcare and social work. Indian nationals were the largest group to benefit, receiving a substantial portion of the permits.
