The European Commission on Tuesday updated its visa policy for workerscoming to the continent to work as skilled labourers.
The new agreement reached by the European Parliament and Council willinclude more flexible entry and exit conditions for the workers, enhancedrights and the possibility to move and work more easily between the EUMember States.
The new scheme, under the revised Blue Card Directive, will introduceefficient rules to attract skilled workers. However, the Member States willbe responsible for deciding on the number of persons they admit for labourpurposes.
“Today’s agreement gives the EU a modern, targeted legal migration schemethat will allow us to respond to skills shortages and make it easier forhighly skilled professionals to join our workforce. The EU Blue Card willhelp sustain economic growth, respond to labour market needs and increaseproductivity to allow the EU to emerge stronger from this pandemic. Thisagreement on a key migration file also shows that, by working together, theEU can equip itself with a future-proof migration system”, according to aEuropean Commission official.
As the third wave of the pandemic begins to subside across the continent,the EU looks forward to attracting talent from around the world to putbusinesses in a better position.
The new changes in the EU visa policy;
To qualify for the new EU worker visa policy, the applicant’s salarythreshold must be between 1 to 1.6 times the average gross annual salary.
Under the new rules professionals in the field of information andcommunication technologies sectors will be accepted. However, people havingprofessional experience equivalent to a higher education qualification willalso be able to apply for the visa.
EU Blue Cardholders will be required to complete a test if they want tochange their position or employer.
Highly skilled beneficiaries of international protection will be eligibleto apply for an EU Blue Card.
The family members of EU Blue Card Holders can also accompany them andaccess the job market of the EU.
EU Blue Card holders, and their family members, will be able to move to asecond Member State based on simplified mobility rules after 12 months ofemployment in the first Member State.