European Council adopts ‘Blue Card’ system for foreign workers

The new directive is aimed to increase competitiveness and economic growth and to tackle demographic problems within the EU area. The new rules will facilitate procedures of the third-country workers’ legal entry to the EU job market and to improve their residency condition in the EU. The Blue Card applicants would have to meet a certain wage criteria by earning at least 1.5 times the average gross annual wage of the receiving country. Also, applicants must hold a diploma giving official recognition of at least three years of higher education or proof of five years of equivalent professional experience.

In return, the Blue Card holders will be guaranteed equal treatment with the nationals of the member states with a series of socio-economic rights and favourable condition for family reunification and movement across the EU countries.

The period of validity of the EU Blue Card will be between one and four years, with possibility of renewal. The EU Blue Card may also be issued or renewed for shorter periods in order to cover the work contract period plus three months. After eighteen months of legal residence in the first member state as an EU Blue Card holder, the person concerned and his family members may move, under certain conditions, to a member state other than the first member state for the purpose of highly qualified employment.

At the same day, the Council also adopted a directive “Sanctions for employers” to organize legal immigration and raise awareness of the struggle against illegal employment among the employer and workers. Under the directive, the EU employers will be penalized with fines or penal sanctions in case of infringement of prohibition.

Sources:

http://www.borderfirereport.net/foreign-news-report/european-union-to-impose-sanctions-on-employers-who-hire-illegal-aliens.php

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