Hungary Restricts Entry of Non-EU Guest Workers

Hungarian Prime Minister Péter Magyar has implemented a new government decree to restrict the influx of workers from non-European Union countries. This move is intended to ensure that more job opportunities are made available to Hungarian citizens.

The decree, published in the official Hungarian gazette, stipulates that no new residence permits will be issued under the guest worker regulations established by the previous government led by Viktor Orbán. This effectively halts the facilitated entry of foreign labor from outside the EU.

Currently, an estimated 90,000 non-EU workers are employed in Hungary, constituting about two percent of the country's workforce. These individuals are primarily employed in sectors such as the accumulator and automotive industries, construction, seasonal agricultural work, and delivery services. The majority of these foreign workers come from countries including the Philippines, Ukraine, China, Vietnam, and India.

Reducing the number of guest workers was a key promise made by Magyar during his election campaign. He aims not only to increase employment among Hungarians but also to discourage companies from potentially lowering wages by hiring foreign labor. Magyar's government took office on May 9, following his Tisza party's decisive victory in the April 12 parliamentary elections.