Trade union wants easier entry for foreign workers

As all sectors are struggling to find qualified staff, Føroya Arbeiðsgevarafelag (the Employers’ Union) is recommending more flexibility in the pre-approval system for foreign workers.

 >> SEE ALSO Staff shortage across all sectors

Importing workers from EU countries is currently a relatively straightforward process because unemployment is below 3.5 percent. 

But Føroya Arbeiðsgevarafelag wants this 3.5-percent limit scrapped, and if that is not possible, it wants to see the provision expanded to also include non-EU nations.

Constraints for the industry

The union argues that EU citizens do not currently need to look abroad for work because employment figures are low across the EU, and this is a good reason to expand the scope to outside of the EU.

 >> SEE ALSO Recognition of foreign workers’ skills “crucial”

The Faroese industry has been calling for these limits to be scrapped for years, according to the union.

Føroya Arbeiðsgevarafelag also campaigned for getting rid of the 3.5-percent limit ahead of the last general election in 2015, at a time when the employment figure was at 3 percent.

Translated by prosa.fo