In short: Yes, for a narrow set of roles: retail and area managers who run the operation, butchers and boners, and registered pharmacists. Sales assistants, cashiers, sales supervisors and bakery staff are on the Ineligible Occupations List. CA Recruitment confirms which of your roles qualify and manages the full DETE permit process.
Correct as of 7 October 2026. DETE quotas, eligible-role lists and processing times change during the year, and the butcher/boner route is quota-capped. Get in touch and we will verify the current position for your specific role before you spend anything on the process.
Retail Staffing Challenges in Ireland
Irish retail has faced persistent recruitment difficulties across all store formats — from independent shops to large supermarket chains. High turnover, part-time churn, and difficulty filling consistent full-time roles have left many operators short-staffed at floor level and in supervisory positions.
Overseas workers bring a strong work ethic, genuine customer service orientation, and excellent English — all qualities that translate directly into a retail environment. Many have prior retail and customer service experience internationally, and they tend to stay in roles once placed through the employment permit route.
Roles We Fill
Important: General retail roles (assistants, cashiers, sales supervisors, merchandisers, shelf fillers, stock room and customer service) are on DETE's Ineligible Occupations List and cannot be sponsored for an employment permit. Our explainer on roles that cannot get an Irish work permit covers the full list. If you're unsure whether your vacancy qualifies, contact us — we'll confirm eligibility before anything starts.
Each of these comes with a condition worth knowing before you advertise:
- Retail and store managers: the role must genuinely run the store or region (staff, budgets, stock, targets). DETE classifies by duties, and a shopkeeper or proprietor role is on the Ineligible List even where the title says "manager".
- Pharmacists: registered pharmacists are on the Critical Skills Occupations List, so the route is a Critical Skills Employment Permit, and the candidate must be registered with the PSI to practise. Pharmacy and dispensing assistants are ineligible. Our Critical Skills list check explains how that permit differs.
- Butchers and boners: eligible for a General Employment Permit under a fixed quota. DETE had published no notice that this quota is filled when we checked on 7 October 2026; we re-check before any advert runs.
The Permit Process
- 1
Free Consultation
We assess the role and your current workforce to confirm eligibility and the correct permit route. No obligation or charge.
- 2
Sourcing, Vetting & Labour Market Test
We source and vet candidates in the Philippines and manage the 28-day labour market advertising requirement (JobsIreland.ie + EURES + one other online platform — three platforms, two postings, since registering on jobsireland.ie covers both JobsIreland and EURES) before submitting the application.
- 3
Placement & 90-Day Support
We support the worker's arrival and check in throughout the first 90 days.
Struggling to fill retail positions? Let's talk.
WhatsApp us and we'll tell you whether your retail role qualifies for an employment permit and what's involved.
WhatsApp UsWhy Filipino Retail Workers?
Customer Service Orientation
Filipino culture places great emphasis on courtesy and service. This carries directly into retail — customer interactions, complaint handling, and general floor presence are natural strengths.
English Proficiency
English is an official language in the Philippines and is used in schools, business, and media. Customer communication and team coordination are never a barrier.
Reliability
Workers who come through the employment permit route have invested significantly in the opportunity. Consistent attendance and commitment to the role are the norm, not the exception.
Stable Workforce
Unlike locally sourced seasonal or part-time retail workers, permit holders tend to stay. Lower turnover means less disruption and reduced ongoing recruitment cost for your store.
What Irish Retail Operators Say
"We needed reliable staff for our shop in Midleton and couldn't find the right people locally. CA Recruitment placed two excellent Filipino workers with us — both have been brilliant from day one. Couldn't recommend them highly enough."
"The compliance piece was what worried me most: work permits, visas, the whole lot. CA handled every bit of it. Our new accounts administrator was in the office and productive within two months of first contact."
Frequently Asked Questions
Only management-level and a few skilled retail roles qualify for an employment permit. Retail assistants, cashiers, sales supervisors, merchandisers, shelf fillers and shopkeepers are all on DETE's Ineligible Occupations List and cannot be sponsored. We'll confirm eligibility for your specific role during the free consultation.
Three groups. Retail and area managers who run the operation (staff, budgets, stock, targets) qualify for a General Employment Permit; a shopkeeper or proprietor role does not, so the duties in the contract matter. Butchers and boners qualify for a General Employment Permit under a fixed quota. Registered pharmacists are on the Critical Skills Occupations List, so they go through the Critical Skills Employment Permit, and they must hold PSI registration to practise. Pharmacy and dispensing assistants, bakery staff, floor staff, cashiers and stock room roles are not permit-eligible.
Yes. To sponsor a General Employment Permit, at least 50% of your current workforce must be EEA, Swiss or UK citizens. We check your eligibility during the free consultation before any process begins.
It depends on the permit. On a General Employment Permit (retail managers, butchers), allow around 6 months from first consultation to the worker starting, or 4 to 5 months for a candidate from a non-visa-required country. The 28-day Labour Market Needs Test, DETE processing (check current processing dates at enterprise.gov.ie) and the entry visa account for most of that. A pharmacist on a Critical Skills Employment Permit skips the Labour Market Needs Test: allow around 3 to 4 months, with PSI registration running as a separate process. The work permit guide breaks each stage down.
Overseas workers are widely regarded for their customer-service orientation, courtesy, and patience — qualities that make them a natural fit for retail environments. English fluency means customer communication is not an issue from day one.
CA Recruitment's recruitment fee is agreed upfront and is separate from government costs. The main external cost is DETE's permit fee: €1,000 for a General or Critical Skills Employment Permit of up to 24 months, paid by the applicant, which in our process is the employer. Full breakdown at consultation.