Permits Foundation statement in support of Stamp 3 spouses seeking direct work access in Ireland
11 September 2018Permits Foundation, a not for profit initiative supported by more than 40 international companies and organisations, works with governments to bring about best practice legislation that enables dual careers in the global workplace. Over 30 countries internationally including almost all EU Member States, the UK, US, Australia, New Zealand, Brazil and Canada, operate under the best practice model – enabling spouses or partners of highly-skilled employees to have direct access to employment and self-employment for the duration of the assignment.
In Ireland, spouse work authorisation is not attached to the dependant’s visa. A separate permit is required which results in an unnecessarily lengthy application process and uncertainty that costs families and employers time, resources – and in some cases a job. The experiences highlighted by the Stamp 3 representatives give testament to that. Permits Foundation advocates attaching work authorisation to the dependant’s pass rather than via a separate work permit application (for critical skills, researchers and Intra Company Transferees (ICTs)). This is in line with international best practice and will create a ‘triple win’ that is good for families, good for employers and good for Ireland.
Concern about partner employment is one of the main reasons why employees turn down or break an international assignment. Our global surveys show that countries that allow family members to work are more attractive to the global highly-skilled talent pool that goes hand-in-hand with international investment and development. This policy helps to improve local employment prospects and long-term economic growth and would help to meet skills shortages that have been cited by the Irish Government. From our work globally we know that access to employment for partners has a positive impact on highly skilled employees’ willingness to accept, complete and extend an international relocation, as well as on health, wellbeing and integration of the family members into the host country.
Further details on Permits Foundation’s proposals can be found in our response to the Consultation for Economic Migration Policies sent to the Irish Government in April this year.
Further information for the press
Permits Foundation research shows that assured family access to employment is a key factor in attracting and retaining talent.
For example, in our survey of over 3300 expatriate partners accompanying employees in 200 companies, almost 60% said they would be unlikely to relocate to a country where there would be difficulties getting a work permit.
Further evidence from our international surveys:
- 96% of highly skilled families say that countries that enable partners to work are more attractive destinations.
- 70% of partners said that their own employment was important in the decision to relocate.
- 51% of employers reported that employees have turned down international assignments due to partner employment concerns. 21% of employers reported that assignees returned home early for the same reasons.
- 80-90% of partners of highly qualified employee are graduates, including around half with a master’s degree or higher.
- Partners who are working are more likely to report a positive impact of working on integration, health or well-being and family relationships than partners who are not working.
