Hungary will stop issuing new work visas to citizens of Armenia starting June 6 as part of a broader effort by the country’s new government to tighten regulations on foreign labor, Reuters reports.
Government spokeswoman Vanda Szondi said the measure is the first step in a long-term plan to control the inflow of guest workers and address concerns that foreign labor could put downward pressure on local wages.
The change will also apply to workers from the Philippines and Georgia. Under the revised rules, manpower agencies will no longer be able to recruit workers from these countries through a simplified procedure.
Armenian citizens who are already working in Hungary will still be allowed to apply for visa extensions, while applications submitted before the new rules take effect will continue to be processed.
The decision follows the election victory of Prime Minister Peter Magyar’s Tisza party, which pledged to halt the issuance of work permits to non-European Union workers.
Although foreign workers make up only about 2% of Hungary’s workforce, several sectors, including manufacturing and services, rely heavily on labor from abroad. Some major foreign investors have warned that a complete restriction on guest workers could negatively affect businesses and the wider Hungarian economy.
