In a landmark decision, Greece’s parliament overwhelmingly approved a new law granting tens of thousands of undocumented migrants residence and work permits. This bold move aims to address a burgeoning shortage of unskilled labor while offering a lifeline to those living in the shadows.
The legislation, drafted by the center-right New Democracy government, ties residency status directly to employment. An estimated 30,000 individuals, primarily agricultural workers, stand to benefit, according to the labor ministry. The measure applies only to migrants residing in Greece without permits for at least three years before November 30th, 2023, excluding recent arrivals.
Despite grumblings from within its own right wing, New Democracy secured passage with the support of left-wing opposition parties. Minister of Migration Dimitris Kairidis lauded the cross-party consensus, calling it crucial for meeting market needs for low-skilled workers. He emphasized the government’s commitment to balancing “strict border control and combating human trafficking with facilitating legal migration” in line with Greece’s economic demands.
Concerns regarding potential citizenship shortcuts or family reunification were quelled by Kairidis, who clarified that permits hinge on continued employment and offer no route to immediate citizenship. This emphasis on integration through work resonates with the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), which jointly praised the law as a “positive example of political will to empower marginalized individuals.”
IOM and UNHCR lauded the law’s potential to benefit both Greece’s economy and the migrants themselves. By legalizing their employment, the measure protects migrants from exploitation while bolstering the workforce. Additionally, a provision reducing the asylum-seeker wait period for entering the labor market from six to two months was welcomed.
Greece, situated at the EU’s southeastern gateway on the Mediterranean, remains a major entry point for those seeking a better life in Europe. Most arrive via small boats from nearby Turkey, seeking refuge on the eastern Aegean islands. Despite a significant drop from the peak of nearly 1 million arrivals in 2015, some 45,000 reached Greece this year – the highest number in four years. While many secure legal status as refugees, others remain undocumented, often working in the informal sector.
The new law offers a path out of this precarious situation for tens of thousands. While the Mediterranean continues to witness tragedies like the June 2023 sinking off Greece and the 2015 Libyean shipwreck, Greece’s decision to integrate existing undocumented migrants marks a step towards a more humane and economically sound approach to migration.
