Guest workers: new law may simplify Chinese and Russian immigration to Hungary

Several proposals were submitted to the Parliament that would simplify the employment process of guest workers in Hungary. The amendments are said to be needed due to the increased labour demand related to the expansion of the Paks II nuclear power plant and the construction of the railway line between Budapest and Belgrade.

A number of minor legislative amendment proposals were submitted to the Parliament by the Business Development Committee, Index.hu reports. Among the possible changes, the one that is the most attention-catching is related to the expansion of the Paks nuclear power plant and the renovation of the Budapest-Belgrade railway line.

Third-country guest workers to get residence permits more easily

As the news site writes, the amendment would simplify the process through which guest workers from a third country (that is, from outside the European Union) receive a residence permit for the purpose of employment in Hungary. The goal of the new legislation is to secure the extra manpower that is needed for the two projects as soon as possible.

Currently, based on the Immigration Act, the residence permit for workers from third countries is valid until the completion of the development they are employed in, or for a maximum of three years.

Based on the new laws, guest workers involved with the Paks II and Budapest-Belgrade projects could receive a residence permit for up to five years, and even their family members would be able to apply for a residence permit in the country through a simplified procedure.

Népszava explains that while the extension of the Paks-related permits is understandable since the reactors will be completed by 2035 at the earliest, the possibility that the construction of the Budapest-Belgrade railway line will take another five years is a surprise.

There are currently 120,000 guest workers in Hungary, but the Orbán government would consider it necessary to import 300,000 or even half a million guest workers in the coming years, Népszava reports.

Index.hu points out that Sándor Czomba, the state secretary responsible for employment policy, said in an interview a few days ago that guest workers will not displace Hungarians from their jobs.

Do the simplifications pose a security risk?

As Népszava, who noticed the law amendment proposal, highlights, there is no legal restriction on which workers from which countries would benefit from the amendment. However, based on the background of the investments, in the case of Paks, mostly Russian workers can be expected to come to Hungary, while in the case of the Budapest-Belgrade railway line, it is mainly Chinese workers who will likely be employed.

The paper therefore states:

“The Orbán government’s proposal on simplified employment for Chinese and Russian citizens also poses a national security risk, since the secret services of the two countries are active in Hungary, for whom these laws will provide a simplified access to the European Union.”

Read also:

• Atomexpo 2024 in Sochi: Hungarian Foreign Minister announces another milestone at the Paks nuclear power plant – HERE
• SHOCKING: Hungary’s guest worker numbers exposed! – Read HERE

Featured image: depositphotos.com

Source: Népszava, Index