The pilot horticulture work permit scheme opened in May 2018 to allow people from non-European Economic Area (EEA) countries to work here if employers can show they cannot get workers in Ireland or EEA countries. Many of the permits were taken by the mushroom industry, while carrot, tomato and Brussels sprouts growers also employed workers under the scheme. It hired more than 60 people from Thailand under the work permit scheme. “It has been extremely difficult to get workers because there is a huge crisis in the horticulture industry,” she said. “We have a lot of challenges in the mushroom sector so anything that can help us get staff is welcome.”

Source: The Irish Times February 03, 2020 02:15 UTC