The entire agri food sector in Ireland is facing a labour challenge at the moment.
Whether it is the long-term issue of succession faced by the farming industry or the problems caused by labour shortages in the processing sector, it is clear that the industry needs to attract more people to ensure Ireland’s food industry continues to produce the high-quality, high-value output it has built its reputation on.
The scale of the problem for food processors can be seen in the latest Bord Bia CEO sentiment survey of food exporters.
The biggest concern in the industry is the cost of labour, with the third biggest concern being access to workers.
Labour issues were a bigger concern than tariffs, regulations and supply chain disruption.
The food processing sector, particularly the meat industry, has traditionally filled this employment gap with workers from outside the EU.
The Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment controls the issuance of visas for these workers and sets limits on how many can be issued, which can again lead to labour shortages.
The Irish Farmers Journal reported in early December 2025 that the 350 permits for non-EU dairy workers had been filled, while the quota of 1,000 for work permits for meat factory operatives had also been filled.
The Department responded later that month by providing a new quota of 1,000 meat factory workers while increasing the allocation to dairy workers to 850.
The quotas were available immediately, in order to address what the Department called “constraints in the meat and dairy sectors”.
Interestingly, the horticulture and piggery sectors only used about half of the allocation work permits in 2025.
While the introduction of new permits did provide some short-term relief, they come with requirements for minimum rates of payment and there is an onus on the employer to show that they have tried, and failed, to hire an EU citizen for the vacancy.
There is also a fee of €1,000 to be paid per work permit of more than six months.
This access to non-EU labour doesn’t solve the cost of labour issue.
The minimum payment rate of €30,000 for meat processing operatives includes an obligation on the employer to ensure the worker has access to suitable accommodation and training, including language training.
These obligations are not in place for dairy farm assistants, but the minimum wage is set higher at €34,000, based on a 39-hour work week, which equates to €16.77 per hour.
This number is still set far below the average hourly earnings in Ireland in 2025 which was €30.48, according to most recent Central Statistics Office data.
This disparity in pay between workers in the agri food sector and the rest of the economy adds another layer of pressure for employers as they will often find themselves having to pay significantly above the department minimums in order for their workers to be able to afford to live in Ireland – a factor more prevalent in the east of the country where accommodation can be very expensive.
As an employer, it is also important to know the rules around visas. There are several different types, and employing someone with the wrong kind of visa can lead to problems.
The visas issued under the quota system are known as Stamp 1 visas, also known as a work-permit visa. A Stamp 2 visa is one for non-EU nationals in Ireland for education.
These visas allow for 20 hours work during term time and up to 40 hours work during holidays.
Stamp 3 visas are for voluntary workers and dependents of work-permit holders. Holders of Stamp 3 visas are not entitled to work in Ireland.
Finally, Stamp 4 visas are for long-term residents which allows working and living in Ireland without need for a work permit.
For employers who hire on a more casual basis – such as farmers during busy seasons, it is important to know which kind of visa your worker has.
We have heard plenty of stories about workers on Stamp 2 visas taking too many hours, leading to the risk of prosecution or fines for the employer.
The entire agri food sector in Ireland is facing a labour challenge at the moment.
Whether it is the long-term issue of succession faced by the farming industry or the problems caused by labour shortages in the processing sector, it is clear that the industry needs to attract more people to ensure Ireland’s food industry continues to produce the high-quality, high-value output it has built its reputation on.
The scale of the problem for food processors can be seen in the latest Bord Bia CEO sentiment survey of food exporters.
The biggest concern in the industry is the cost of labour, with the third biggest concern being access to workers.
Labour issues were a bigger concern than tariffs, regulations and supply chain disruption.
The food processing sector, particularly the meat industry, has traditionally filled this employment gap with workers from outside the EU.
The Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment controls the issuance of visas for these workers and sets limits on how many can be issued, which can again lead to labour shortages.
The Irish Farmers Journal reported in early December 2025 that the 350 permits for non-EU dairy workers had been filled, while the quota of 1,000 for work permits for meat factory operatives had also been filled.
The Department responded later that month by providing a new quota of 1,000 meat factory workers while increasing the allocation to dairy workers to 850.
The quotas were available immediately, in order to address what the Department called “constraints in the meat and dairy sectors”.
Interestingly, the horticulture and piggery sectors only used about half of the allocation work permits in 2025.
While the introduction of new permits did provide some short-term relief, they come with requirements for minimum rates of payment and there is an onus on the employer to show that they have tried, and failed, to hire an EU citizen for the vacancy.
There is also a fee of €1,000 to be paid per work permit of more than six months.
This access to non-EU labour doesn’t solve the cost of labour issue.
The minimum payment rate of €30,000 for meat processing operatives includes an obligation on the employer to ensure the worker has access to suitable accommodation and training, including language training.
These obligations are not in place for dairy farm assistants, but the minimum wage is set higher at €34,000, based on a 39-hour work week, which equates to €16.77 per hour.
This number is still set far below the average hourly earnings in Ireland in 2025 which was €30.48, according to most recent Central Statistics Office data.
This disparity in pay between workers in the agri food sector and the rest of the economy adds another layer of pressure for employers as they will often find themselves having to pay significantly above the department minimums in order for their workers to be able to afford to live in Ireland – a factor more prevalent in the east of the country where accommodation can be very expensive.
As an employer, it is also important to know the rules around visas. There are several different types, and employing someone with the wrong kind of visa can lead to problems.
The visas issued under the quota system are known as Stamp 1 visas, also known as a work-permit visa. A Stamp 2 visa is one for non-EU nationals in Ireland for education.
These visas allow for 20 hours work during term time and up to 40 hours work during holidays.
Stamp 3 visas are for voluntary workers and dependents of work-permit holders. Holders of Stamp 3 visas are not entitled to work in Ireland.
Finally, Stamp 4 visas are for long-term residents which allows working and living in Ireland without need for a work permit.
For employers who hire on a more casual basis – such as farmers during busy seasons, it is important to know which kind of visa your worker has.
We have heard plenty of stories about workers on Stamp 2 visas taking too many hours, leading to the risk of prosecution or fines for the employer.
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