Georgia’s Deputy Agriculture Minister Giorgi Tsagareishvili said the government’s new labor migration rules aim to protect the domestic labor market while allowing legal employment of foreign nationals.
“We do not need foreigners who enter Georgia illegally, take the place of Georgian citizens in the labor market, push them out of employment opportunities, and make migration of Georgian citizens abroad irreversible,” Tsagareishvili said ahead of a meeting with businesses on planned labor migration regulations.
According to him, the government and parliament have completed work on the main directions of immigration policy, with the new rules developed after months of consultations with the business sector. He noted that Georgia previously lacked a comprehensive framework for managing labor migration, which created challenges for implementing an effective immigration policy.
Tsagareishvili stressed that the government does not oppose foreign investment, knowledge exchange, or legal employment of foreigners, but intends to tighten controls over illegal labor migration. From March 1, foreign citizens working in Georgia will need a “right to work,” without which employment or service agreements with foreign nationals will be prohibited. Certain occupations, including tour guides, couriers, and taxi drivers, will also be restricted for foreigners without permanent residency.
