Employment, labour rights and migration across the European Union.
Employers in Flanders who hire workers from outside the EEA and Switzerland have paid a €180 regional fee per single-permit application since 1 September 2026. Since 6 November 2026, applications submitted before that date can no longer be paid online and must be submitted again.
in force
Bulgaria’s government has set the national minimum monthly wage at €660 gross and the minimum hourly rate at €3.98 from 1 January 2027. This summary is based on media reports; the official decree text was not checked directly.
published
An Institute for Market Economics (IME) analysis, reported on 29 October 2026, says about 29,000 third-country nationals held employment-based residence permits in Bulgaria at end-2025 and finds no clear sign of displacement of local workers. No rules have changed; key hiring obligations are summarised from official Employment Agency guidance.
guidance
Denmark's Immigration Service says permits under the Ukraine Special Act can be extended until 17 March 2028 for holders who still meet the conditions. The assessment is automatic, and no application is needed.
in force
From 1 January 2027, certified employers can hire citizens of 16 countries into collectively agreed jobs at a minimum yearly salary of DKK 322,000 (2026 level). SIRI expects certification applications to open at the beginning of December 2026.
adopted
A federal law that speeds up recognition of foreign qualifications in four health professions was published on 28 July 2026. According to an industry association, its remaining parts took effect on 1 November 2026. For doctors, dentists and pharmacists from non-EU countries, the knowledge test becomes the standard route; the document-based equivalence check is only available on request.
in force
Official figures from the Federal Employment Agency for October 2026 show 654,000 registered vacancies and weak overall demand for labour. A business survey by the German Chambers of Industry and Commerce (DIHK) of around 23,500 firms finds more companies planning to cut staff than to hire, while shortages remain severe in sectors such as civil engineering and road freight.
published
A European Migration Network report published by the ESRI on 3 November 2026 shows that employment permits for non-EEA workers have more than doubled since 2021, with strong demand in health, ICT, hospitality and construction. It also points to rights such as changing employer after nine months, and to continuing problems with exploitation and qualification recognition.
published
The Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment took the Employment Permits Portal offline after detecting unauthorised activity (first notice 29 October 2026). New applications cannot be submitted, including by email, while applications already submitted continue to be processed. No reopening date has been confirmed.
guidance
New ISTAT data for 2025, published on 3 November 2026, show the employment rate of foreign graduates in Italy fell to 68.4% while that of Italian graduates rose to 86.3%. What it means for international workers with a degree.
published
The pre-compilation window for 2027 nulla osta applications under Italy's decreto flussi opened on 23 October and closes at 20:00 on 7 December 2026. Click days follow from 12 January 2027, with 165,850 entries available for 2027.
in force
Official statistics show 7,790 people registered as unemployed in Cyprus at the end of October 2026. Media reports of the same release say the annual rise came mainly from tech, administrative and professional services, while construction stayed almost flat.
published
In early November 2026, construction unions threatened industrial action over the renewal of third-country work permits for firms accused of labour violations, while the labour ministry said no construction firm had yet used the Cyprus–Egypt worker scheme. Most details come from media reports.
in force
Since 5 November 2026, holders of a Portuguese temporary residence permit can use AIMA's online contact form to request an appointment for a permanent residence permit under Article 80 of Law No. 23/2007. Here is who may qualify, what to attach and what is still unclear.
guidance
Portugal's government plans to raise the national minimum monthly wage from €920 to €970 in 2027, and the labour minister repeated this in parliament on 6 November 2026. The new amount is not yet fixed in a published legal act. What is confirmed, what employers should plan for and what is still open.
proposal
Key WorkinRomania functions for employer registration and D/AM2 work-visa applications remain switched off after a Bucharest court suspended the shortage-occupation list. An employers’ association says the portal should work again by mid-November with almost 400 listed occupations, but no official date has been confirmed.
proposal
Romania’s gross minimum wage has been 4,325 lei a month since 1 July 2026. According to media reports, the Ministry of Labour has sent social partners three scenarios for 2027, from 4,593 to 5,079 lei gross. The Government has not decided yet.
proposal
Slovenia's Employment Service (ZRSZ) reported 43,032 registered unemployed people at the end of October 2026 – 1.4% more than in September but 5.8% fewer than a year earlier. The figures are official; here is what they show and what they do not.
published
On 6 December 2026 Slovenian voters will decide whether the Act on Intervention Measures for the Development of Slovenia (ZIURS), adopted by the National Assembly on 11 May 2026, takes effect. According to media reports, it would cap the base for social security contributions at €7,500 gross and change several employment rules. The referendum campaign started on 6 November.
adopted
Eurostat figures published on 30 October 2026 put Finland's unemployment rate at 10.5% in September 2026, the highest in the EU, compared with an EU average of 6.2%. Statistics Finland reports the same 10.5% trend rate. Competition for jobs is strong, so any move to Finland needs careful planning.
published