Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 17 January 2024
438. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he or the Minister of State with responsibility for Business, Employment and Retail will meet with an organisation (details supplied) in relation to changes to the work permit scheme for non-EEA healthcare assistants; the steps he is taking to address the concerns raised in correspondence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1238/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraI thank the organisation for their correspondence and appreciation of the changes announced at the end of last year to the employment permits system. I am actively engaging with a number of the relevant sectoral stakeholders in regards to the implementation of the salary threshold increase associated with the role healthcare assistant.
The minimum annual remuneration thresholds are intended to act as a payment floor in order to be eligible for the grant of an employment permit. They are not intended to establish a level of remuneration for an occupation. Contractual arrangements and terms of employment including rates of appropriate remuneration (above the minimum requirements) for employees are a matter for the employer and employee outside of the employment permits system.
The roadmap of remuneration increases announced in December sets out a plan to continue raising the thresholds for third country permit holders across 2024, 2025 and 2026, thus further enhancing their access to rights to family reunification permissions provided by the Minister for Justice.
