Hungary calls for foreign nationals to bridge labour gap despite hardline immigration policies

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán is known for his hard stance on immigration. However, due to the lack of local workers and in the light of new industrial developments, Orbán's ruling Fidesz party is opening the country’s doors to hundreds of so-called “guest workers” from developing countries.

A group of cheerful women waved at us while coming out of an unnamed factory at the end of their shift. They recently arrived from the Philippines, on a two-year contract.

We followed them to accommodation provided by their direct employer, a Hungarian recruitment company, which provides them with a food allowance.

“This place is very nice, it has all the appliances”, said Monette, walking through the utility room. She arrived last May: "It’s very convenient to work here because you take the salary for yourself.” 

When asked if the local population had reacted to their presence, Monette and her friends were adamant that they were well received: “We haven’t felt discriminated against! People are warm and friendly, we feel welcome and at home in Hungary!"

Last Spring, Viktor Orbán stated that the country would need to create half a million new jobs over the next few years, admitting that foreign labour was needed.

An estimated 700,000 Hungarians have left the country to work abroad, mainly in Western European countries, as a consequence, Hungary is crying out for more workers.

“Due to growing demands in investment, companies in Hungary are increasingly trying to find labour from abroad,” said Ákos Jáhny, the CEO of a Hungarian recruitment firm that hires hundreds of workers abroad each month, mainly in Asia.

It's a trend that has caused the head of the Hungarian Chemical Workers Federation to worry: “Wages are the same for Hungarian