The government will rigorously review the regulations in force with the aim to “fully revamp and tighten regulations on immigration and labour”.

“Comprehensive measures are needed on the residence and employment of third-country citizens, to protect the Hungarian workforce and citizens,” the statement said.

“The new bill will make it clear that third-country citizens can only live and work in Hungary for the reasons determined by Hungary, by meeting the requirements of the state, and by its approval,” the statement said.

Companies must first try to fill all jobs with Hungarians, and will only be allowed to employ foreigners if that is not possible, it said.

The implementation of the law on the employment of guest workers will be put on hold until the full-scale legislation is in place, the statement said.

Mi Hazánk Hails Role in Changes to Law on Guest Workers

Opposition Mi Hazánk has claimed credit for the government’s recently announced changes to rules on guest workers, saying the government’s move was a rearguard reaction to the radical party’s rising popularity and protests against the law.

The economic development ministry on Thursday said the government is drafting legislation to further tighten regulations on immigration and labour of third-country citizens.

“[Ruling] Fidesz has backed down on the import of guest workers,” Mi Hazánk deputy leader Dávid Dócs told a press conference on Friday. Instead of a mass influx of guest workers to Hungary, Mi Hazánk wants vacancies to be filled by enticing Hungarians who have emigrated to return home, Dócs said.

The party is also in favour of supporting domestic small businesses over basing the economy on battery production, leading to the sector’s multinationals importing masses of guest workers, he added.

“We don’t want to become a country of immigrants,” Dócs said, adding that there were already “hundreds of thousands” of guest workers in Hungary, “while close to a million Hungarians have left as economic refugees”.

Mi Hazánk would only take in a limited number of guest workers who would not be a burden to society, Dócs said.

“We’re not xenophobic, we simply fear for our country,” he added.