Hungary to Implement Stricter Regulations for Foreign Guest Workers
Key Takeaways
1. Hungary is introducing stricter regulations for guest workers, prioritizing local employment. Employers must prove they are unable to fill positions with Hungarian workers before hiring foreigners.
2. Guest worker permits will be limited to specific employers and professions, valid for a maximum of three years, with no option for permanent residency.
3. Private recruitment agencies will be prohibited from hiring workers from outside the EU, shifting the focus to domestic training programs for local job seekers.
The Hungarian government is set to enforce new regulations aimed at ensuring that job vacancies are first offered to Hungarian citizens before turning to foreign workers.
Employers must demonstrate that they cannot find suitable Hungarian candidates before hiring foreigners, and a thorough investigation will be conducted in each case to balance foreign hires with domestic employment opportunities.
Employers with a history of labor violations may face automatic rejection of their foreign worker applications. Additionally, employers may be denied if they refuse to hire local workers or engage poorly during negotiations.
Ban on Private Recruitment Agencies for Non-EU Workers
Hungary Today reports that the new rules will also prohibit private recruitment agencies from hiring non-EU workers. The government is emphasizing the creation of training programs tailored to meet the needs of job seekers and align with labor market demands.
Guest workers will be required to leave Hungary within six days of job termination. Further restrictions are also being drafted to prevent guest workers from holding positions in state institutions and state-owned enterprises.
Despite the rise in unemployment, Hungary continues to face labor shortages in certain sectors, prompting the hiring of guest workers from countries like Indonesia, the Philippines, and Vietnam.
The government has set a cap of 65,000 guest workers for 2024, allowing entries from 15 approved countries, including Belarus, North Macedonia, and Kazakhstan.
Hungary’s new immigration law, effective from January 1, 2024, introduced rules for guest workers, with investor-specific regulations taking effect in July 2024. Guest worker residence permits are restricted to specific employers, countries, and professions.
These permits are renewable for up to three years, after which a new application is required. Guest workers do not have the right to permanent residency or family reunification.
The 15 countries eligible for guest worker permits under the new regulations include:
- Belarus
- Bosnia and Herzegovina
- North Macedonia
- Philippines
- Indonesia
- Kazakhstan
- Mongolia
- Montenegro
- Vietnam
- Russia
- Brazil
- Georgia
- Kyrgyzstan
- Venezuela
- Colombia
On November 14, 2023, the government introduced legislation revising the residency framework for third-country nationals, stressing that unlimited residency is not a right and that extensions of residence permits will not be automatic.