Resources for employers in Serbia

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In 2023-2024, 107 people reached out to UNHCR for employment assistance, and 45 of them found decent employment with the support of UNHCR. Most assisted individuals come from Burundi, Ukraine, Iran, Cuba, and Syria, among other countries, who have been matched with businesses such as IKEA, Mona Plaza, Zara Home, Holiday Inn, NCR Voyix, Mercator-S, Q Team Solutions, and others. Of those assisted, 20% work in customer support, 17% at IKEA, 15% in the tourism industry, 13% in retail chains, and 11% in production facilities, while others work in hygiene maintenance, restaurants, IT, accounting and medicine.

Read the recommendations given by refugees to the private sector in Serbia, focused on employment and other topics related to their needs. 

Even though most refugees and asylum seekers speak Serbian, the lack of fluency on one hand, coupled with still unrecognized diplomas for some, makes them focus on working in industries unrelated to their previous work experience. Support for learning the local language and diploma recognition is in place to resolve this challenge with time and integration efforts. Some employers must still be fully aware of refugee rights and personal documents. However, this is easily solved through UNHCR's active engagement with the private sector. The language barrier remains a more significant challenge for those who don't speak either Serbian or English, limiting their employment possibilities. Even though the majority of asylum-seekers and refugees are employed, with or without UNHCR's assistance, some challenges in finding employment occur in asylum centres located in more remote areas in Serbia, where the unemployment rate, in general, is higher (Sjenica, Vranje) and where access to job opportunities is somewhat limited, finally, some individuals do not hold original versions of their diplomas. However, this can be resolved through the European Qualifications Passport for Refugees initiative, in which Serbia participates. In their recommendations to the private sector, refugees praised employers who provide psychological support and flexible working arrangements for especially vulnerable people, as well as those who pay particular attention to preventing discrimination at the workplace.

Stateless people in Serbia encounter significant obstacles in exercising their right to work, primarily due to challenges in obtaining personal documentation. Many people at risk of statelessness, particularly from the Roma community, lack birth registration and identification documents, which are essential for accessing employment opportunities. This absence of documentation not only hinders their ability to secure formal employment but also limits access to social protection rights, such as cash assistance and child allowances. Consequently, many stateless individuals are compelled to work in informal sectors, often under precarious conditions. Additionally, societal discrimination and social exclusion further exacerbate these challenges, making it difficult for stateless persons to integrate into the formal labor market. 

During a series of workshops led by UNHCR in 2024, refugees and asylum seekers have formulated valuable recommendations for the private sector. These include 1) treating refugees the same as Serbian employees; 2) providing Serbian language courses, as well as on-the-job training for specific skills; 3) including psychological support for the vulnerable refugees, as well as flexible work options for those who study or are single parents; 4) recognizing and valuing refugee skills and work experience, even if they don't have proof of education; 5) offering opportunities of paid internship for those who may not be eligible candidates for employment right away; among others.

View the full list of Refugee Recommendations for the Private Sector