Greek parliament approves new law granting residence and work permits to many undocumented migrants due to unskilled labor shortage.

Greece's parliament has overwhelmingly endorsed a new law, proposed by the center-right government, that will provide residence and work permits to tens of thousands of undocumented migrants facing a shortage of unskilled labor. The legislation, praised by the UN migration and refugee agencies, ties residence rights to proof of employment and is expected to impact around 30,000 individuals, particularly agricultural laborers. The move has gained broad support in the 300-member parliament, with 262 members voting in favor, overcoming dissent within the ruling New Democracy party. The law aims to balance stringent border controls with facilitating legal migration to meet Greece's labor market needs, emphasizing the prevention of illegal citizenship gain or family reunification and requiring continuous employment for permit maintenance. The International Organization for Migration and UNHCR hailed it as a positive step to integrate marginalized individuals, contributing to Greece's economy while safeguarding migrants from exploitation. Notably, the law reduces the waiting period for asylum-seekers entering the Greek labor market from six to two months. Despite a decline in migrant arrivals since 2015, Greece, situated in the EU's southeastern region, remains a significant entry point, with concerns about illegal residence persisting.