Employment permits reform

For the majority of migrants from outside the European Economic Area (EEA) working in Ireland requires an employment permit (work permit or green card) which is administered by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Innovation.  According to government statistics in 2009, there were approximately 30,000 non-EEA migrant workers holding employment permits in Ireland.   

In MRCI’s experience working with thousands of non-EEA migrants for several years, the operation of the employment permit system creates a number of significant problems for workers.  For example, 80% of MRCI’s exploitation cases involve migrant workers holding employment permits.   Hundreds of workers employed in the permit system have also become undocumented as a result of how the system operates.  

MRCI advocates on behalf of individuals who encounter such problems, as well as campaigning for a better and fairer employment permits system in Ireland.  For more, see MRCI's Policy Paper Work Permits and Exploitation: Time for Reform in the Resources section to the right.

Information & Advocacy

MRCI advocates for individuals with the employment permits section who have become undocumented or exploited usually by assisting them with the Employment Permits Section to get back into the employment permits system.  

For practical information on work permits go to Information for migrant workers section 

Campaign for the Right to Change Employer

Campaign to Stop the Work Permit Changes