Employers want foreigners, trade unions “not really”

Organisations representing employers in Slovakia support measures aimed at boosting work mobility from non-EU countries. "We currently need approximately 100,000 workers," said Republican Union of Employers (RUZ) Vice-President Mário Lelovský on Tuesday, adding that if the amendment is approved, the process linked to employing foreigners should be shortened from around 150 days to 90 in total (recruitment and immigration procedures). Employers want to encourage MPs to approve an amendment to the law on employment services, which deals with employing foreigners and is slated to be discussed in the House at the session due to begin on Tuesday afternoon. The Labour Ministry-sponsored amendment to the law on employment services is primarily aimed at helping to fill vacancies for professions suffering from shortages of labour. It basically simplifies the processes linked to hiring third-country nationals. The Slovak Trade Union Confederation (KOZ) has called on MPs to accept its comments on the draft. They want a cap on non-EU nationals that could work for a company, including agency employees, set at 30 percent of the total number of staff.