Amid planned amendments to Georgia’s Law on Labor Migration, the Georgian Association of Restaurateurs is calling for balanced regulations that safeguard both local employment and migrants' rights to work.
Shota Burjanadze, co-founder of the association, told BMG that while addressing illegal labor migration is important, completely restricting foreign workers could harm sectors already facing labor shortages, such as tourism and services.
“In many sectors like car washes and delivery services, you already see a large share of foreign workers,” Burjanadze noted. “Where language isn’t essential, these jobs are often filled by migrants. This is part of a normal development process for any growing country.”
Under the proposed changes initiated by the Georgian Dream party, a new system of special work permits would make it more difficult for foreigners to gain employment in Georgia. Burjanadze suggests that instead of blanket restrictions, the state could implement a quota system or sector-specific guidelines to better manage labor migration.
“There must be a golden mean,” he emphasized. “We must protect the interests of the local workforce without entirely closing the door to those who come here to work.”
The proposed tightening of migration rules comes amid growing debate over how best to balance economic needs with national labor policies.
