Georgia Faces Labor Crisis as Thousands May Be Working Illegally

Chairman of the Legal Committee of the Georgian Employers’ Association Vakhtang Shurgaya has stated that a potentially alarming number of undocumented foreign workers are currently employed in Georgia.

While speaking to Georgian radio station Palitra, Shurgaya revealed that as many as 200,000 foreign nationals may be working in the country illegally, The Caspian Post reports, citing Georgian media.

“Only 42,000 individuals are officially registered in the Labor Migrants' Registry. These are legally employed workers,” Shurgaya stated. “However, according to data cited in the explanatory notes to recent legislative amendments, over 200,000 foreigners have remained in Georgia over the past two years. These individuals are believed to be working, but without legal documentation.”

The Georgian Parliament has already passed a new Law on Labor Migration, set to come into effect on October 1, 2025. Under the new legislation, foreign nationals will be required to obtain a special work permit issued by their employer. If a worker changes jobs, they will need to repeat the entire application process.

Legal experts say the responsibility for compliance now lies heavily with employers. Shurgaya urged businesses to take immediate steps to regularize the status of foreign employees by collecting relevant documentation-such as diplomas and professional certificates-before the law is fully implemented.

Following the law’s enactment, foreign workers will not only need a work permit, but also a residence permit for employment purposes. However, permits may be denied if an applicant’s qualifications do not align with market demands, or if the occupation appears on a government-issued list restricting the employment of foreigners.

Penalties for non-compliance will be severe, with fines ranging from 2,000 to 7,000 lari (approximately $730 to $2,500) for both companies and foreign nationals who violate the law.