In short: Yes — for eligible roles such as retail and store managers; general sales-assistant roles are on the Ineligible List of Occupations. CA Recruitment confirms which of your roles qualify and manages the full DETE permit 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, stock room, customer service) are on DETE's Ineligible Occupations List and cannot be sponsored for a General Employment Permit. Only specialist and management-level retail roles qualify. If you're unsure whether your vacancy qualifies, contact us — we'll confirm eligibility before anything starts.
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 (Jobs Ireland/EURES + one additional platform) 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 specialist and management-level retail roles qualify for the General Employment Permit (GEP). Basic roles such as retail assistants, cashiers, stock room operatives, and customer service representatives are on DETE's Ineligible Occupations List and cannot be sponsored for a permit. We'll confirm eligibility for your specific role during the free consultation.
The eligible retail roles under the GEP are: Senior Retail Manager (e.g. Area Manager), specialist technical sales roles requiring specific expertise, Retail Pharmacists, Butchers/Boners in specialist food retail environments, and Bakery Managers/Specialists. Standard floor staff, cashiers, and stock room roles are not permit-eligible. Contact us to confirm whether your vacancy falls within the eligible categories.
Yes. To sponsor a General Employment Permit, at least 50% of your current workforce must be EEA nationals. We check your eligibility during the free consultation before any process begins.
Typically 6–8 months from initial consultation to the worker starting in your store. The 28-day Labour Market Needs Test and DETE processing (check current processing dates at enterprise.gov.ie) account for most of this time.
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 employer-paid DETE GEP fee (currently €1,000) is the main external cost. Full breakdown at consultation.