In 2024, the Republic of Croatia plans to introduce new legal changes regarding the procedure for hiring foreign workers. Due to the current lack of labor in many sectors, such as construction, tourism and hospitality, the government of the Republic of Croatia announces the facilitation and acceleration of the process of hiring foreign workers. These changes aim to adapt the legal framework to the needs of the labor market and international migration trends, as well as alignment with the legal acquis of the European Union.

The key changes announced in 2024 to amend existing legal regulations include:

Work permits:
– Work permits for foreign workers should become biometric in order to further improve employment regulation.

-One of the key changes in the announcement also refers to the extension of the duration of work permits for foreign workers, from one to three years, which should make it easier to change employers without the need to issue a new permit.

– while the duration of permits for seasonal workers is intended to be extended to nine months instead of the current six.

Protection of foreign workers:
– it is planned to introduce a measure such as the obligation of employers to provide adequate accommodation. If the accommodation is provided by the employer, he will have to prove its suitability, and the competent ministry will issue a regulation regulating the accommodation standards.

– If the employment of a foreign worker ends, he will have a period of 60 days to find a new employer without the need for a new permit issuance process. This reduces the administrative burden and enables a faster return to the labor market

– The government is also planning additional measures to combat undeclared work, such as “black lists” of employers who violate regulations. Employers who end up on that list will remain on it for six years, which will be a severe sanction for violating workers’ rights. This measure should encourage employers to comply with the law and protect the rights of foreign workers.

Promissory notes and financial measures: Employers will be required to issue promissory notes for foreign workers, to cover the costs of their return to their home countries in case they do not start work or their contract is terminated in the first few months. This is a measure that would contribute to workers’ liability insurance.

EU Blue Card: The possibility of issuing a “blue card” to highly qualified experts in the ICT sector, even those without formal higher education but with relevant work experience, would be introduced. The period of validity of the “blue card” would be extended from 24 to 48 months, and greater flexibility in changing employers would be enabled.

The new law on foreign workers in Croatia, as of the date of publication of this article, is still in the analysis phase, and it is expected that the final document of the law should be sent to the Croatian Parliament for reading by the end of September 2024.

All the discussed changes are the result of continuous negotiations with employers, trade unions and other key stakeholders, and are aimed at simplifying the employment of foreign workers, reducing administrative barriers, and additionally regulating the responsibility of employers and the rights of workers in order to achieve better regulation and adjustment to the labor market in Croatia.

Author, Admin – FINACRO doo

Sources:

Ministry of Labour, Pension System, Family and Social Policy of the Republic of Croatia
Croatian Employment Service (HZZ)
https://mup.gov.hr/