Abstract
The rise in asylum applications in the EU in recent years has placed the integration of beneficiaries of international/humanitarian protection at the top of the political agenda. Labour market integration is of particular importance to beneficiaries, but also for Member States as they struggle to cope with ageing populations and labour market shortages, and therefore for the achievement of a prosperous, cohesive and inclusive EU society.
Under the recast Qualification Directive, all Member States grant beneficiaries of international protection the legal right to employment. In most Member States this right is subject to rules generally applicable to the profession and to the public service.
In all Member States, employment-related support measures form part of the broader framework of labour market integration policies for migrants, which reflects the focus traditionally placed on the integration of migrants in general rather than specifically on beneficiaries of international protection.
However, beneficiaries face numerous obstacles to access employment-related support measures in all Member States. Some employment-related support measures are not widely available to all beneficiaries. Other factors which impede the participation of beneficiaries in support measures include financial costs (both direct and indirect), lack of language proficiency, low educational levels, lack of educational qualifications and/or documents to proof qualifications etc.
This study[1] identified certain differences in the treatment between the various categories of beneficiaries when it comes to labour market access and access to employment-related support measures. The main difference between refugees and beneficiaries of subsidiary protection relates to the length of the residence permit with many Member States granting residence permits of shorter duration to beneficiaries of subsidiary protection. Also, beneficiaries of humanitarian protection are in some Member States subject to more administrative conditions in comparison to refugees/beneficiaries of subsidiary protection.
See also:
- Integration of Beneficiaries of International Protection into the Labour Market: Policies and Practices in Ireland
- The Integration of Beneficiaries of International/Humanitarian Protection into the Labour Market: Policies and Good Practices: EMN Inform
[1] The Synthesis Report was prepared on the basis of National Contributions from the following Member States: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Slovenia, Slovak Republic, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom
