Changes to employment permits, designed to make the system more flexible, will come into force from Monday 2 September.
Regulations giving effect to the Employment Permits Act were signed today.
Under the new rules, certain categories of permit holders will be able to change employer after a nine month period.
A new seasonal employment permit will be introduced to support the seasonal needs of certain sectors such as fruit picking.
Subcontractors will be given access to the employment permit system.
There will be a requirement for additional conditions such as training and accommodation support for employment permit holders.
The new regulations will allow for non-consultant hospital doctors to have a permit which will allow them to work at multiple sites.
The changes will also allow permit holders to be promoted within their roles without the need for a new permit.
Today’s regulations also extend employment permit quotas for two key roles.
A new quota of 500 permits will be granted to the home care sector, while a further quota of 250 permits will be issued to lineworkers to help relieve the pressure on the ESB Networks’ overhead line framework contractors.
The Employment Permits Act 2024 applies to people from outside the European Economic Area (EEA) who wish to take up eligible employment and residence in Ireland.
The Government said the changes to the permit system will make it more easily adaptable, allowing it to respond quickly to changes in the labour market and business needs.
“The improvements in the new Act will allow for a more modern, flexible employment permits system as well as ensuring employee rights are maintained,” said Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment Peter Burke.
“It will greatly benefit employers and permit holders alike,” Mr Burke said.
Minister of State for Business, Employment and Retail, Emer Higgins said Ireland needs to attract more international talent.
“This new law, along with recent measures like the granting of work rights to the eligible spouses and partners of certain employment permit holders and the roll out of a single permission to both work and live in Ireland – will massively help to achieve this goal,” Ms Higgins said.