Photo credit: Croatia Week
The Croatian government has sent amendments to the country’s Foreigners Act into parliamentary procedure. It introduces new requirements for foreign workers that include mandatory Croatian language learning as a condition for reviewing residence and work permits. It also eases restrictions on changing employers.
The Dubrovnik Times reports that the proposed changes that have been approved at a government session this week are intended to align Croatian law with European Union legislation, including the EU Single Permit Directive and the EU Pact on Asylum and Migration. Officials say the reforms are designed to improve labour market flexibility while strengthening protections for third-country nationals working in Croatia.
Under the amendments, foreign workers will required to pass a Croatian language exam at level A1.1- the most basic level of proficiency-after one year of residence in the country in order to extend their permits. The government describes the measure as a step toward better integration rather than a barrier to employment.
At the same time, the law would make it easier for foreign workers to change jobs. Workers would be allowed to move between occupations with the same employer, not only in officially designated shortage professions, provided a labour market test is conducted. They would also be permitted to change employers after six months with their first employer, without the need to apply for a new residence and work permit.
presenting the amendment, Davor Bozinovic, Croatia’s interior minister and deputy prime minister, said the changes aim to provide a faster response to labour market need s while maintaining security standards.
Additional provisions extend the deadline for issuing residence and work permits to 90 days, and allow foreign workers to remain unemployed for up to three months during the validity of a permit, or six months if the permit has been held for more than two years.
