Companies welcome the simplification of employing people from third countries, but trade unionists have concerns

22.04.2024 13:27

Employing people from countries outside the European Union should be simplified. The government approved the changes this week. While companies welcome the adjustments, trade unionists fear that too many foreign workers will be added. The state promises that shortage occupations will be filled.

Employers say that schools do produce graduates, but these do not reflect the needs of the labour market. Slovakia is thus dependent on labour from abroad. Employing a worker from a third country, however, takes an average of 11 to 18 months. The government therefore simplified the conditions.

"First we receive a binding opinion from the labour office on whether a person from a third country can fill that position. And once we have that approving opinion, only then do we go to the foreign police, which speeds up the process. As soon as a person has a confirmation from the labour office and applies for temporary residence at the foreign police, they can start work,"

said the Secretary General of the Association of Industrial Unions and Transport Andrej Lasz.

Trade unionists expressed concern that increasing the number of foreigners may negatively affect collective bargaining. Labour Minister Erik Tomáš (Hlas-SD), however, stressed that Slovakia wants to employ foreigners only in shortage occupations and jobs that cannot be filled by a Slovak citizen.

You can see more in the report by RTVS.