British News Agency

The core idea of the new law is to simplify worker recruitment through hiring programs agreed with countries such as India, Bangladesh and Egypt. The bill also предусматривает a special “fast-track” route for major public works projects.

The draft law includes tough measures against migrants who entered Greece illegally and also envisages increased pressure on civil society organizations that assist migrants.

Greek Migration Minister Thanos Plevris told ERT television, “We need workers, but we will take a tough stance against illegal migration.”

Migration tensions in Greece reflect how sensitive the issue remains across Europe, even though numbers have fallen significantly since the major migration waves of 2015, when Greece’s Aegean islands were among the main points of arrival.

Over the past two years, the Greek state has approved more than 80,000 migrant job positions annually. There are no official figures on labor shortages, but studies by industry bodies show the country’s needs exceed by more than double the number of state-approved quotas, with only half of those positions filled.

With the government holding a parliamentary majority, the migration law is expected to pass.