New Hungarian regulation would ban guest workers’ employment in more jobs
The Prime Minister’s Cabinet Office is in the process of drafting a new decree regarding foreign employees and the positions they would be prohibited from holding in Hungary. As per the latest draft, guest workers would be restricted from roles within state institutions and state-owned enterprises.
Hungarian government favours white Christian guest workers
In the explanatory section of the decree, the Cabinet Office asserted, “Working or residing in Hungary for a foreign national is not an inherent right.” They emphasised that all available positions should be prioritised for Hungarian citizens.
Consequently, the Hungarian government is steadfast in its commitment to tightening regulations concerning guest workers and their employment in Hungary. Thus, they will prohibit the hiring of foreign workers in state institutions and state-owned companies. Any intention to employ a foreign national within such entities will necessitate approval from the minister responsible for the respective domain.
In February, the government said they would welcome white Christian guest workers in the country, citing ease of integration due to cultural proximity to Hungarians, as reported by 444.hu. However, these stipulations only apply to third-country nationals, as citizens of EU or EEA member states can work in Hungary without restrictions.
According to hvg.hu,, if the government adopts the new decree, it will not be retroactively applied.
Hungary grapples with structural unemployment
We covered earlier today that, based on the figures of the Hungarian Central Statistical Office, the jobless rate in Hungary rose again in February. However, the actual unemployment rate can be misleading as Hungary faces shortages in certain professions, rendering it difficult to find Hungarian nationals willing to work due to low wages. Consequently, companies resort to hiring guest workers from countries such as Indonesia, the Philippines or Vietnam.
For instance, a subcontractor of the Budapest Transport Company (BKK) sought to employ Filipino drivers, sparking public outrage. This issue was previously discussed in an article available THIS. Meanwhile, Hungarian media frequently covers stories of Hungarian bus drivers seeking employment in Austria, Germany and other Western countries.
As we detailed HERE, the maximum number of guest workers permitted to enter Hungary in 2024 is set at 65,000. These individuals can come from 15 countries, including Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Macedonia, the Philippines, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Montenegro, Vietnam, Russia, Brazil, Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, Venezuela and Colombia.
Read also:
- The shocking reason behind companies choosing guest workers over Hungarian – Read more HERE
- Tens of thousands of guest workers cannot enter Hungary: large investments in trouble
Featured image: depositphotos.com
love for diversity and inclusion…
This article claims that the government “prefers white Christian guest workers” yet there is no citation. From my own research I see nowhere in the draft legislation where this was stated.
Is this journalism, or an opinion piece? Where is the evidence for this claim? If we’re going to criticize a government, at least show the evidence.
Following similar in the Anglosphere of dog whistling asylum seeking refugees who are Muslim, but needing a foreign worker program to fill skill gaps and pay taxes (for more pensioners), while working age Hungarians emigrate en masse, and many will not return….. lack of opportunities for upward mobility &/or highly skilled Hungarians due to govt. policies?
Agree with you Anonymous, not only emigration of the young and educated is a big issue, but also the the economic structure of the country that makes upward mobility much harder for people that aren’t allied to the governing regime. It introduces a strong element of economic inefficiency as you’re implicitly recruiting from only half the population for many jobs, overlooking otherwise talented people whose politics aren’t considered ‘suitable’. Even in Franco’s Spain they employed and promoted people who were on the ‘wrong’ side during the Spanish civil war. Perhaps even he realised that plurality ultimately benefits and helps to improve the country.
Well, it is nor like “christian/Catholic” countries such Colombia and Philippines are full of white people. So, let me understand this. If you want to come to the all powerful Hungary, to meke idk, 800 euros oer month, you need to be white, catholic, maybe speak hungarian, and also be a Fidesz supporter? Hold my palinka Orban!
Hungary has learned from the fatal mistakes of the German guest worker programs. Cheap labour is not worth sacrificing your culture to 7th century invaders. Keep Hungary Hungarian.