The Georgian Dream party has introduced a draft law to tighten regulations on the employment of foreign nationals, with concerns over labor market saturation and unregulated migration. The proposed changes, now under urgent parliamentary review, would eliminate the current system by presenting a new framework for issuing special work permits and increasing penalties for violations.
The explanatory note of the legislation points to “an influx of unqualified or surplus labor” as a primary challenge, warning that the trend is “negatively impacting both the local workforce and overall labor market conditions.”
Under current rules, employers are only required to register foreign workers in an electronic labor migration system. The government has no authority to deny employment based on labor market needs, which lawmakers now want to change.
The bill proposes:
- A new special work permit system
- Defined criteria for issuing permits
- Regulation of self-employed and entrepreneurial foreigners
- Monitoring and enforcement mechanisms
- Fines for unauthorized employment and activity
- A clear division of responsibilities among enforcement agencies
As official data cited in the proposal shows, 239,334 foreign nationals stayed in Georgia for at least six months between 2022 and 2023. However, only 42,000 were formally registered as labor migrants. “This discrepancy shows that the current system fails to capture the actual scale of labor migration in Georgia,” the document states.
If passed, the law would come into effect on March 1, 2026. All foreign workers registered in the current system would be required to obtain both a special work permit and a residence permit by January 1, 2027. The legislation will not apply retroactively.
Fines defined in the bill include:
- 2,000 GEL for each foreign employee hired without authorization
- 2,000 GEL for self-employed foreigners lacking work rights
- Double penalties for repeat offenses
