Up to 200 Migrant Nurses in Ireland Denied Work Permits Over 50:50 Rule

Migrant Nurses Ireland (MNI) reports that up to 200 migrant nurses have been denied employment permit renewals because their employers failed to meet the Department of Enterprise’s 50:50 ratio of EU to non-EU staff. This rule requires at least half of a workforce to be Irish or EEA nationals when an employment permit application is assessed, aiming to limit reliance on non-EU labor.

MNI sent a letter to Enterprise Minister Peter Burke in late February, highlighting the significant impact of the strict 50:50 rule application on healthcare assistants seeking to renew permits. Many long-term workers are now facing renewal refusals, causing anxiety and uncertainty. Without a valid permit, re-entry to Ireland is not guaranteed, and families cannot join them.

The Department of Enterprise confirmed that all applications, including renewals, are assessed under the Employment Permits Act, adhering to the 50:50 rule. They noted the rule promotes prioritizing the existing workforce and that non-compliance affects an employer’s ability to obtain or renew permits. The Department is reviewing the policy, considering risks to continuity of care due to staffing shortages.

One nurse, recruited to a Limerick nursing home last March, was denied her permit due to her employer's issues with the 50:50 rule. This delay has prevented her from visiting her two children, aged 6 and 11, in India and applying for them to live with her. She also developed Bell’s Palsy due to stress and wishes to see her seriously ill mother.