Statement by Generation 2.0 RED regarding the new immigration bill.

We submitted comments on the draft migration law and express our deep concern about the negative consequences it may bring for thousands of people.

Specifically, Article 29 of the bill, regarding the abolition of the residence permit for exceptional reasons for those who have lived in the country for 7 consecutive years, and Article 30, concerning applications for residence permits for work by third-country nationals, not only fail to address the long-standing problem of thousands of people who live and work in Greece without legal documents, but also remove the few legalization tools that existed until now. Instead of giving people who have demonstrably lived in the country for years the opportunity to legalize their status and integrate, the state chooses to keep them in a situation of uncertainty and precarity.

The residence permit for exceptional reasons has been applied for more than fifteen years, functioning not only as the first entry point into the legal migration system for people who have completed seven years of residence in Greece, but also as an important safety valve for people who have lived in the country for decades, always with residence permits, and at some point may have lost the right to renew their permit for any reason (e.g., not meeting the minimum required work stamps, reasons of force majeure, etc.). Therefore, with the abolition of the provision for legalization after seven years of continuous residence, thousands of people who already work and contribute to Greek society are excluded from any prospect of integration, and even individuals whose children have grown up here – and who may themselves already have acquired Greek citizenship – risk being trapped in a “limbo” of invisibility. Instead of adopting a policy that recognizes reality, the government chooses repression, criminalizing even people who have submitted residence applications.

At the same time, the official “invitation” procedure for bringing in workers from abroad has failed to operate effectively, pushing many into exploitative networks. It is unreasonable to punish employers who try to legalize their workers or to have no provision at all for those who have been trapped in bureaucratic dead ends.

The government, which less than two years ago passed a law to meet the needs of the labor market, is now turning its back on the very people who keep key sectors of the economy standing.

We demand:

• That the possibility of legalization through seven years of residence not be abolished, as it is a fair and necessary measure for people who have lived here for years.
• That there be a clear, distinct provision for legalization on humanitarian, social, or employment grounds.
• That uniform and fair protection criteria be established for workers who have been blocked due to their employers’ inability to complete the process.
• That an independent appeals mechanism be created for rejected applications.
• That fines stop being imposed on employers who, in good faith, attempt to legalize their workers.

The right to a legal residence status and genuine integration is not a threat – it is a necessity for a just, functional, and humane society.