Striking it rich: Guest workers paid millions in Hungary?

guest workers
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By January 2024, the number of guest workers in Hungary had likely reached over 100,000. The workers’ employment is diverse: some are occupied in factories, while others take on intellectual work. In many cases, their monthly salary reaches millions of forints, while in the meantime, the government would tighten their employment opportunities.

Pénzcentrum.hu analysed the data of the Central Statistical Office (KSH) in a recent article. It states that in October 2023, the number of foreign nationals employed in Hungary was 95,500, approximately 13,000 more than in the same month in 2022. This means, on average, an increase of 1,000 foreign employees per month between the two years.

Following this trend of growth, we can estimate that in January 2024, the number of foreigners working in Hungary exceeded 100,000.

At the same time, KSH figures show that the number of foreign citizens staying in Hungary has also been increasing since 2017. Asians among them are highly overrepresented: while in 2017 there were roughly 40,000 Asians in the country, by 2023 their number reached 65,000. Out of these, 18,000 were Chinese citizens.

There is also a huge increase in the number of Filipino workers in the country, who are mainly in the manufacturing, electronics, and food industries, employed by companies such as Suzuki, Audi, Bosch, and Wolt.

Some sectors guarantee guest workers over HUF 1 million salaries: these are the best-paying jobs for foreigners

Pénzcentrum examined salaries in 2022 and 2023 and collected the best- and worst-paying jobs that foreigners can take on in Hungary.

The following occupations topped the salary list in 2023:

  • Air traffic controllers: 2.6 million HUF (6,650 EUR)/ month;
  • Aircraft driver, flight engineer: 2.5 million HUF (6,396 EUR)/ month;
  • Specialist doctors: 2.19 million HUF (5600 EUR)/month;
  • Head of a unit engaged in IT and telecommunications activities: 1.6 million HUF (4093 EUR)/ month;
  • Stock and financial agent, broker: 1.5 million HUF (3840 EUR)/ month.

It is interesting to note that among the best-paid jobs, there are three that are critically understaffed in Hungary: specialist doctors, general practitioners, and IT teachers outside the school system.

In contrast, kitchen helping, simple agricultural occupations, cleaning jobs, and simple construction work offer rather poor salaries. In 2023, these jobs did not reach the average gross monthly pay of HUF 300,000 (EUR 767).

It is quite obvious that the majority of the 25 professions with the worst average salary are physical jobs that do not require any kind of education. This means, as Pénzcentrum draws attention to it, that the wages of guest workers temporarily settling in our country and working in factories, couriers, and food industry companies are well below the Hungarian average wage.

The Hungarian government would limit the employment of foreigners

We reported previously that in 2024, the cap on foreign workers permitted to come to the country will be at 65 thousand.

Moreover, as you can read in detail here, the Prime Minister’s Cabinet Office would restrict guest workers from taking on employment within state institutions and state-owned companies. Hiring foreign workers in these positions will be subject to approval from the minister responsible for the respective office.

The government explained the necessity for the decision by emphasising that they prioritise the employment of Hungarian citizens over guest workers, writing,

“working or residing in Hungary for a foreign national is not an inherent right.”

The restrictions would apply to third-country citizens, as those from the European Union or the European Economic Area can freely work in Hungary. Non-EU workers also cannot become, for example, priests, engineers, dentists, pharmacists, teachers, actors, or metro, tram, and trolley bus drivers.

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Featured image: depositphotos.com

Source: Pénzcentrum

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