This EMN Inform summarises the findings from the EMN Study on The Integration of Beneficiaries of International/Humanitarian Protection into the Labour Market: Policies and Good Practices and is based on contributions from EMN National Contact Points in 24 Member States[1]
Key points to note:
- The rise in asylum applications in the EU, in combination with a higher recognition rate, has placed the integration of beneficiaries of international/humanitarian protection at the top of the political agenda.
- Results of the EU Labour Force Survey show, however, that the labour market participation rate of beneficiaries is low, especially in the first four or less years of residence.
- Although beneficiaries are granted the legal right to access the labour market in all Member States, administrative requirements and practical obstacles specific to the situation of beneficiaries impede access in practice.
- Member States provide beneficiaries access to a wide range of employment-related support measures. However, differences exist across Member States as to the organisation, the type/content of the measures, the extent to which they are tailored to beneficiaries, as well as the extent to which they are accessible in practice.
- The large majority of Member States apply a mainstreaming approach and provide access to employment-related support measures in a similar manner to all TCNs. Several others apply a hybrid approach by combining generic measures for migrants with specific tailored measures to beneficiaries, whereas only few provide specific measures tailored exclusively to beneficiaries.
- Core measures provided by most Member States include language courses, orientation services, employment services (including counselling), housing assistance, and assistance in obtaining recognition of professional qualifications.
- Beneficiaries face obstacles to access employment-related support measures. 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, lack of language proficiency, low educational levels, lack of educational qualifications and/or documents to proof qualifications etc.
- Certain differences in the treatment between the various categories of beneficiaries exist. 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
- Integration of beneficiaries of international/humanitarian protection into the labour market: policies and good practices: EMN Synthesis Report
[1] 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
