---
title: "End of the Orbán Era: New Hungarian Prime Minister Péter Magyar Cancels Labor Migration Program"
description: "New Hungarian Prime Minister Péter Magyar has canceled the labor migration program created under Viktor Orbán. The decision aims to protect jobs for Hungarians, but employers fear labor shortages in the automotive and construction sectors. 🇭🇺📉"
date: 2026-06-06T14:58:00.000Z
lang: en
url: https://xab.info/en/posts/end-of-the-orban-era-new-hungarian-prime-minister-peter-magyar-cancels-labor-migration-program
tags: []
publisher: "XAB.info"
---

# End of the Orbán Era: New Hungarian Prime Minister Péter Magyar Cancels Labor Migration Program

![Peter Magyar, the new Prime Minister of Hungary, delivers a speech in front of Hungarian and European Union flags, announcing the cancellation of the labor migrant attraction program.](https://xab.info/media/2026/06/06/madyar-otmenya-programmu-po-pritoku-migrantov-v-vengrii/madyar-otmenya-programmu-po-pritoku-migrantov-v-vengrii-1.webp)

Hungary is entering a new era following historic parliamentary elections. The country's new Prime Minister, Péter Magyar, who took office on May 9, has already begun implementing key campaign promises. One of the first and most resonant steps was the signing of a decree that effectively halts the influx of labor migrants from non-European Union countries under the simplified scheme.

### Cancellation of the Orbán Government Program

Magyar's decision aims to eliminate a practice introduced by the previous government of Viktor Orbán. The new administration will no longer issue residence permits under the scheme that allowed the recruitment of workers from outside the EU through agencies controlled by the former Prime Minister.

It is important to note that this is not a total ban on the entry of third-country nationals, but rather the cessation of a specific mechanism that operated during Orbán's 16-year rule. Existing permits remain valid until their expiration date, although the question of their possible extension is not clarified in the new decree.

### Economic Logic and Campaign Promises

Péter Magyar repeatedly criticized the practice of mass labor import during his election campaign. According to the new Prime Minister, canceling this scheme should address two main tasks: free up more jobs for Hungarian citizens and prevent wage suppression that companies might have stimulated by hiring cheaper foreign labor.

Restricting the influx of migrants was one of the central points of the Tisza party's program, which won a decisive victory in the elections on April 12, 2026, securing 138 out of 199 seats in parliament. This defeat marked the end of Viktor Orbán's 16-year rule, who officially acknowledged his loss.

### Labor Market Reaction and Staff Shortages

Despite the political will of the new leadership, the decision has raised concerns in business circles. Industry associations and employer groups warn that many sectors of the Hungarian economy are already experiencing an acute labor shortage.

Current estimates suggest that around 90,000 citizens of non-EU countries work in the country. This accounts for approximately 2% of Hungary's total workforce. Their main areas of employment include:

    - Battery production and the automotive industry;

    - The construction sector;

    - Agriculture (seasonal work);

    - Delivery services.

The largest groups of labor migrants in Hungary are citizens of the Philippines, Ukraine, China, Vietnam, and India. Now, businesses must adapt to new conditions where access to simplified recruitment of foreigners is blocked.

### Historical Context of Change

The change of power in Hungary was accompanied by unprecedented public interest in politics. Voter turnout reached nearly 80%, a record high for the country since the collapse of the socialist bloc. The victory of the Tisza party led by Péter Magyar signaled major changes in state policy, with migration reform becoming the first step into a new era.