The Czech government has approved changes to quotas for foreign worker admissions at 11 embassies, effective from July. The revised quotas are intended to prioritize the recruitment of highly qualified professionals, particularly in fields such as information technology and science, while reducing the number of available slots for low-skilled labor. Prime Minister Petr Fiala announced the decision following a Cabinet meeting, stating that the goal is to reshape the structure of labor migration by increasing access for skilled workers and limiting the intake of low-skilled labor. “We are adjusting the government regulation on the number of work visa and employee card applications that can be submitted at selected embassies. This step is part of our broader effort to support the recruitment of highly qualified workers from abroad,” Fiala said. The changes, prepared by the Ministry of the Interior, apply to long-term visa applications—those exceeding 90 days—for individuals participating in labor migration programs. These include highly qualified and qualified employees, key personnel, researchers, and digital nomads. Under the revised quotas, the Czech Embassy in Delhi will be able to process 24 applications for IT specialists under the digital nomad program. These workers would enter on business visas and operate as self-employed professionals. Half of the quota is reserved for highly skilled professionals and researchers. Processing for these permits is expected to take no more than 45 days. In China, where demand for employee cards has risen sharply—from 235 applications in 2022 to 1,315 last year—new annual quotas have been introduced. In Beijing, the quota is set at 760, with 400 spots allocated for highly qualified and scientific staff, and 360 for other applicants. In Shanghai, the annual cap will be 410, including 250 for specialists and 160 for general applicants. In contrast, the number of visa places for low-skilled workers from Africa will be reduced. Embassies in Cairo, Lusaka, Pretoria, Rabat, and Addis Ababa will now have a residual quota of 120, while 420 places will remain allocated for African scientists and experts. In Thailand, the annual quota in Bangkok will increase from 300 to 460, with 100 additional places for qualified workers and a residual quota of 220. According to the Interior Ministry, the number of applicants for Thai massage studies in the Czech Republic is currently six times higher than the existing quota, requiring a lottery-style registration process. Additionally, new quotas of 60 highly skilled applicants each will be introduced through the Czech offices in Tokyo and Taipei. These quotas are not intended for Japanese or Taiwanese citizens, who already have unrestricted access to the Czech labor market, but rather for applicants from countries such as Vietnam and the Philippines. The government’s adjustments reflect a broader policy shift towards attracting skilled labor to meet the evolving demands of the Czech economy, while placing tighter controls on low-skilled migration. Source: CTK