Everything you need to know about guest workers in Hungary

On the 10th of May, a conference was held addressing the growing impact of guest workers in Hungary. This professional gathering offered an excellent opportunity to learn about legislative changes and the practical experiences of recruitment companies and employers. Here is everything you need to know about guest workers in Hungary: the growing need, the protection of Hungarian workers, stricter legislation and more.

Growing need for guest workers in Hungary

Turizmus.com reports a rising demand for guest workers in Hungary. Ferenc Rolek, Vice President of the National Confederation of Hungarian Employers and Industrialists (MGYOSZ), pointed out that demographic trends are reducing the number of available workers in both Europe and Hungary, with no expected change for the next 20-25 years. All EU countries face this issue and are seeking high-quality foreign labour. Many Hungarians will continue working abroad due to income disparities, making Hungary increasingly dependent on foreign labour.

foreign workers guest

Protection of the Hungarian workforce

Ferenc Rolek highlighted the complexity and socio-political aspects of the new legislative framework. Legislators aimed to ensure that the new law clearly states that guest workers are to be employed for a limited period under controlled conditions to protect Hungarian workers.

Third-country nationals from 15 countries (including Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Colombia, Brazil, Georgia, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Montenegro, Vietnam, Russia, Kyrgyzstan, Venezuela, the Philippines and North Macedonia) can come to Hungary as guest workers with a simplified group permit. However, the list of around 300 occupations where third-country nationals cannot work as guest workers has been updated.

Strict legislation

Under the new legislation on aliens, the process for obtaining a residence permit for employment purposes remains the same, taking at least 70 days and requiring proof that no Hungarian workers are available for the job. Despite this, the rejection rate for applications is high, at around 40-50%.

The government prioritises guest worker residence permits, limiting the number of companies, countries, and jobs involved, and imposing strict controls. Employers who fail to comply with these obligations face heavy fines.

Highly skilled workers to come

One of the conference speakers highlighted the challenge of fluctuating income outflows and the pressure on employers to recruit during peak seasons, suggesting that labour should be priced flexibly. He noted that internal fairness is often sacrificed during these periods to maintain external competitiveness, with emergency hires receiving higher wages. He views employing third-country workers as a temporary solution to this issue and anticipates that guest workers in Hungary will eventually fill senior positions.

Others shared this view, expressing confidence in attracting more highly qualified professionals from third countries within 4-5 years. They emphasised that guest workers are well-suited for positions that cannot be filled domestically.

guest workers
Photo: depositphotos.com

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Featured image: depositphotos.com

3 Comments

  1. The latest, in past days, statistic’s by month released in Hungary, relating to monthly deaths to “new” born – AGAIN deaths over births – the WINNER.
    In the 14 years of the Orban – Fidesz Government – this has BEEN the by month, by year TREND.
    Guest Workers – the “plugging” or “quick fix” – flying by the seat of there pants solution – on a wing and a prayer maybe strategy, of the Orban – Fidesz Government, that is WRONG.
    Long term effects of such “plastic” immigration / migration polices, that have somewhat immediate effects or ramifications on “existing” Hungarians, just flaunt with gargantuan DANGERS – for the FUTURE of Hungary.
    We KNOW the FAILED Economic & Financial Policies of the Prime Minister – Victor Orban and his Minister of Finance – Mihaly Varga in association with policy changes the Fidesz Government of Hungary have tried, that have FAILED in incentives to raise the birth rate of DNA – Hungarians, attempting to have them STAY in Hungary, that have RESULTED in being policies of a cataclysmic FAILURE.
    Guest Workers – they come they come and WILL continue to COME, that the rapid transformation of cultural and “other” changes happening, still to HAPPEN in Hungary will sooner than later be WITNESSED and felt by DNA – Hungarians.
    We KNOW from the “Food” bike rider delivery numbers from which part of the GLOBE, this “veiled” word usage of Guest Workers come.
    It’s ALL happening Hungary – and you either as we ARE just “go with the flow” or rise together in SOLIDARITY and stop the bastardization – the sell off of Hungary – that IS being on-going being forcefully practiced by the Orban – Fidesz Government.
    We crumble – in a state of DISINTERGRATION through the Orban – Fidesz Governments abuse and failing of us Hungary, that just look at what they, after 14 years have DELIVERED us – individually and as a country – Appalling.

  2. Orban, is “excreting” in our FACES – Jose Hernandez.
    DEMOCRACY, the people of Hungary, we have forgotten his WORDS from his mouth, thousands who stood and listened to him that day in Hero’s Square, the millions of Hungarians listening to him over the radio, on there televisions, in 1989 – millions throughout Europe and the Global World, from the Dais, in Hero’s Square – Victor Orban – “mouthing off” – advocating, preaching, that the ways, the Governance of Hungary, from 1945 to 1989 – under COMMUNISIM was the past, that our FUTURE, the FUTURE of Hungary, was under DEMOCRACY.
    WHAT has he undertook at the expense of Hungary, the people of Hungary, and DELIVERED them to – individually this day and as a country ?
    Orban has “excreted” on us individually and as a country, that we are LEFT, remembering, the longer he – his Fidesz Government are in POWER, that it will WORSEN, a country Hungary in total disorder being in SHAMBLES.

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