Refugee Employment Handbooks Presented for Employers and Persons Under International Protection

The guide “Employment of Asylum-Seekers and Persons Granted Asylum or Temporary Protection” provides employers with an overview of the relevant legal framework, procedures, rights and documentation required for employing people who have sought or found refuge in Serbia. The publication “Employment in Serbia – Your Rights and Opportunities”, intended for refugees and asylum-seekers, brings together key information on job searching, labour rights, employees’ obligations and the basic elements of employment contracts. It is available in Serbian, English, Ukrainian, Arabic and French.

The handbooks were developed by the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) in Serbia, with expert contributions from the National Employment Service, the Commissariat for Refugees and Migration of the Republic of Serbia, and the Asylum Office of the Ministry of the Interior.

“Through our cooperation with the private sector and our daily work with people who have been forced to flee their countries due to conflict or persecution, we recognized the need for practical and accessible information that can support both employers and refugees. We want to help employers better understand employment opportunities and procedures, while making it easier for refugees to navigate the labour market and understand their rights at work in Serbia,” said Soufiane Adjali, UNHCR Representative in Serbia.

He emphasized that decent employment is one of the most important prerequisites for the successful integration of refugees, economic self-reliance and active participation in society: “When refugees have the opportunity to work and contribute to their communities, the benefits are mutual. Employers gain access to motivated candidates who bring a diversity of skills, experience and perspectives, while refugees are able to build independent and dignified lives in the communities that have welcomed them. We thank all partners whose expert comments and suggestions contributed to the development of these publications.”

Asylum-seekers, as well as persons granted asylum or temporary protection in Serbia, have the right to work without obtaining a work permit, provided they hold valid identity cards issued by the Asylum Office of the Ministry of the Interior. In addition, asylum-seekers must submit proof of their status to employers, as access to the labour market is granted six months after submitting an asylum application.

The conference also featured sessions for asylum-seekers and refugees. Participants had the opportunity to learn more about job searching, preparing job applications and available employment support services through sessions delivered by Infostud, the National Employment Service and the Commissariat for Refugees and Migration of the Republic of Serbia.

Both guides are also available in digital format on the UNHCR Serbia website: https://www.unhcr.org/rs/en/integration-resources

This activity was developed as part of the project "Safe Procedures. Rights for All. Strengthening Migration Governance and Asylum Systems in Serbia", implemented by UNHCR Serbia in partnership with the Ministry of Interior, the Commissariat for Refugees and Migration and IOM Serbia, with the support of Switzerland. The organizer is solely responsible for the content of the event, which does not necessarily reflect the official views of Switzerland.