The Small Firms Association (SFA) today expressed concern over delays in the processing of work permits for foreign nationals.
According to the association, small firms around the country have criticised the work permit system introduced earlier this year, with SFA members reporting excessive delays, poor customer service and high charges.
The association also called the current €1,000 work permit cost a "stealth tax".
The SFA said that the cost of obtaining a work permit for a foreign national was an excessively high burden on small businesses, and that this is particularly the case where an employee leaves a firm without any recompense for the employer.
SFA assistant director Avine McNally said: Businesses are experiencing delays from 10 to 12 weeks. It is completely unreasonable for a business to wait such an extensive length of time before a non-national can commence work."
A recent SFA annual employment survey revealed that 46 per cent of companies have current vacancies and that 85 per cent of these are reporting difficulties in filling vacancies - up 8 per cent on 2006 figures. A total of 48 per cent of companies cite lack of skills as the most significant barrier to recruitment.
Ms McNally said that foreign nationals now made up 12 per cent of our workforce and were critical to the development of our economy. "As a nation, we must realise that migrant workers are an addition to our workforce and they should not be hindered by costs or delays in the green card/ work permit system," she said.