Sinéad Gibney (Dublin Rathdown, Social Democrats)
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70. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the actions he has taken to advance the Programme for Government commitment to examine ways to facilitate people who are on work permits to move jobs more easily and legally; whether he has brought this to the strategic migration policy unit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40154/25]

Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I refer to Dáil Question No. 78 of 14th May 2025 and Dáil Question No. 254 of 27th May.

My Department commenced the Employment Permits Act in September 2024 which introduced several improvements to the employment permits system including the facility for those on certain permit types to move job more easily and legally.

Permit holders on the two main permit types can now change to a new employer under their existing permit after a period of nine months has passed since commencing employment in the State pursuant to the employment permit. Exceptions to the 9-month time-frame for first permit holders are considered by my Department on a case-by-case basis where the permit holder may have experienced employment rights violations.

The change of employer option makes it significantly easier for permit holders to seek more favourable working conditions and encourages employers to provide such conditions. It applies to the General Employment Permit and the Critical Skills Employment Permit and current processing times are 1-2 days, ensuring that permit holders are not unduly delayed in changing employers.

General Employment Permit holders can apply to change to a different employer for the same role they are already working in. Critical Skills Employment Permit holders can change to another employer across a broader category of employments, for example, different engineering roles. Critical Skills Employment Permit holders have additional flexibility as their roles are identified on the Critical Skills Occupations List as being in high demand for sectors crucial to the functioning of the economy and society.

Officials from my Department will continue to monitor the employment permits system to ensure that it remains responsive to the needs of the labour market.

Sinéad Gibney (Dublin Rathdown, Social Democrats)
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71. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of people on work permits who have changed employment in the past two years, broken down by month, occupation, and whether they are on a general or critical skills permit, in tabular form. [40168/25]

Sinéad Gibney (Dublin Rathdown, Social Democrats)
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72. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment whether he is aware of the practice of agencies and employers charging workers recruited from overseas illegitimate recruitment fees in order to secure their employment; whether his Department plans to issue any guidance to permit holders on the issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40171/25]

Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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The Employment Permits Act came into force in September 2024 and introduced several improvements to the employment permits system benefitting both employers and permit holders. The Act upholds the previous legislative provision prohibiting employers from making any deduction from the remuneration of a permit holder for costs associated with the recruitment, the application for a permit, or any travel expense paid to the permit holder and establishes an offence for such cases. It is intended to prevent the imposition of coercive or extortionate deductions by employers or agents.

All employment permits issued by my department include a summary of the principal employment rights of employees. There is also a specific mention on each permit about Section 55 of the Employment Permits Act. Section 55 prohibits an employer from making any deduction from the Permit Holder’s remuneration or seeking to recover from a Permit Holder any charge, fee or expense relating to the application for the permit or its renewal and/or recruitment and travelling expenses in connection with taking up employment in the State. A person who contravenes Section 55 can be found guilty of an offence.

The Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) investigates complaints and allegations of breaches of the Employment permits Act 2024, including failing to comply with permit conditions. Information about potential breaches of the law should be forwarded to WRC for investigation.