How to attend the 2025 Lions Tour in Australia
The Lions Tour 2025 will host some of the most eagerly-anticipated games of 2025 for rugby fans. The tour, which runs from 28 June – 2 August 2025, will be hosted in various cities across Australia.
At the end of 2023, Ireland’s Employment Permit System saw the largest expansion ever.
Major changes took place including the addition of new roles to the Critical Skills List, removal of occupations from the Ineligible list and an increase in salary thresholds.
After a few years since the previous changes in the occupations lists, this announcement represents a significant development for the Employment Permit System in Ireland.
From revised salary thresholds to new roles added to the lists, let’s delve into the latest developments.
This has been the first time since 2019 that we have seen multiple occupations added to the Critical Skills list or removed from the Ineligible list. However, this time around, the update was a lot more substantial.
So, let’s see what’s new!
There are 9 new positions included in the Critical Skills Occupations List, while 32 now qualify for a General Employment Permit.
The new occupations included in the Critical Skills List include:
The occupations that are now eligible for the General Employment Permit include:
Read also:
Our guide to working in Ireland, the job market and employment permits
In the December 2023 announcement, a plan to also gradually raise the minimum salary requirements for all kinds of work permits was released.
General Employment Permits previously had a salary threshold of €30,000. This meant that to qualify for a General Employment Permit, the job needed to pay at least €30,000 per year.
However, it was announced that this threshold will increase to €34,000 starting from January 2024. Following that, more increases will happen in 2025.
Additionally, increases in salary for specific industries were also announced. These industries include home carers, healthcare assistants, horticultural workers, and meat processors. Their salary is said to increase to a minimum of €30,000 a year.
Minister Neale Richmond noted that salaries will be increased gradually to facilitate a smooth transition, giving industries like agriculture and healthcare enough time to get ready.
The threshold changes will be as follows:
Type of Employment Permit | Thresholds until Dec 2023 | Thresholds from January 2024 | (Approximate)Change from January 2025 |
---|---|---|---|
General Employment Permit | €30,000 | €34,000 | €39,000 |
General Employment Permit for Butcher/Boner | €27,500 | €34,000 | €39,000 |
Contract for Services Employment permit | €40,000 | €46,000 | €53,000 |
Critical Skills Employment Permit with occupation on the Critical Skills list and a relevant degree | €32,000 | €38,000 | €44,000 |
Critical skills without a degree or occupations that are not on the Critical Skills list | €64,000 | No changes | No changes |
Graduate Positions – Language Skills Specialist | €27,000 | €34,000 | €39,000 |
Healthcare Assistant/ Home Carer | €27,000 | €30,000 | €34,000 |
Intra-Company Transfer (Trainee) | €30,000 | €34,000 | €39,000 |
Intra-Company Transfer | €40,000 | €46,000 | €53,000 |
Horticulture/ Meat Processing | €22,916 | €30,000 | €32,000 |
*Note that figures may be subject to change.
These changes were made for reasons such as:
In summary, these adjustments attempt to match the Employment Permit System with present needs, making sure there are enough skilled workers to support the Irish economy.
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Whether you are an employee or an employer, Visa First is your one-stop shop for employment permits and visas.
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The necessity to increase salaries when renewing employment permits in 2024 depends on several factors, including the specific type of permit and any changes to salary thresholds.
If the salary threshold for the relevant permit category has increased, employers may need to adjust salaries accordingly to meet the new criteria.
The system expanded and changed mainly because there were not enough skilled workers in different parts of the Irish economy.
Also, the salary thresholds were stagnant for almost a decade, so they needed to be reviewed to ensure migrant workers were fairly compensated and to match the economy’s growth and rising prices.
Employers will have to pay higher salaries to meet the new requirements, which may require financial planning and budget adjustments.
Industries that heavily rely on migrant workers, like healthcare, agriculture, and construction, will need to make sure they can attract and retain skilled workers by offering competitive salaries.
Employers should stay informed about updates to the Employment Permit System and adjust their hiring practices accordingly.
Prospective employees should consult official sources, such as the Department of Business, Enterprise, and Innovation, for the most up-to-date information.
The Lions Tour 2025 will host some of the most eagerly-anticipated games of 2025 for rugby fans. The tour, which runs from 28 June – 2 August 2025, will be hosted in various cities across Australia.
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