Work and Social Welfare for Asylum Seekers and Refugees: a study in 8 Selected EU Member States

The European Parliament Research Service has recently released a paper entitled ' Work and Social Welfare for Asylum-seekers and Refugees: Selected EU Member States' (EPRS, Dec. 2015) 

This publication provides an overview of the international and EU legal framework on the right to work and the access to social welfare for asylum-seekers and refugees. The legislation and practice in eight Member States is examined, while the economic impact and employment prospects of asylum-seekers and refugees in the EU are also assessed. It has been produced at the request of a member of the Committee of the Regions, in the framework of the Cooperation Agreement between the Parliament and the Committee.

Will Turkey grant Syrian Refugees the Right to Work?

We would like to reproduce an already dated article (7 August 2015) by Dasha Afanasieva entitled 'Turkey will not give Syrian Refugees Right to Work' highlighting the plight of Syrian refugees in Turkey. Do not hesitate to send us any updates on this topic.

Overview of Right to Work for Refugees Syria Crisis Response: Lebanon & Jordan

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) in its' policy paper 'Overview of Right to Work for Refugees Syria Crisis Response: Lebanon & Jordan' examines the access to work of Syrian refugees in Jordan and Lebanon, as codified under international law. It then considers the domestic law in Jordan and Lebanon that governs work rights for Syrian refugees and provides recommendations for future policy and practice to help realize their right to work. 

Workeer and Action Emploi Réfugiés, online jobfairs for refugees

Job search websites for refugees

Our attention was recently caught by a French and a German Job search website offering jobs to refugees and acting as "jobfair websites". The Websites are the following :
Action EmploiRéfugiés: http://www.actionemploirefugies.com/

Workeer: http://www.workeer.de/  
AERé (Action Emploi Réfugié) is a virtual meeting place for employers who are looking to hire and for refugees who are trying to find jobs. The organisation was set up in September 2015 with the aim to improving refugees' access to the French labour market from the early stages of their arrival. 

Council of Europe Resolution 1994 (2014): Refugees and the Right to Work

We would like to draw the attention on the resolution 1994 (2014) of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe called 'Refugees and the Right to Work' adopted in April 2014.

In this resolution the Parliamentary Assembly states that: 

Among member States of the Council of Europe, it is common practice to grant the right to work to refugees. Asylum seekers are usually also granted the right to work, although not immediately and often with restrictions such as secondary access to the labour market after other migrants and nationals.
Many barriers exist, however, which prevent refugees and asylum seekers from taking full advantage of the right to work. These include problems linked to insufficient language skills, lack of knowledge of the labour market, lack of training and work experience, and problems related to the recognition of qualifications and experience.

It makes sound economic and social sense to allow asylum seekers to work and to provide refugees with access to the labour market. The cost to the State will clearly be less if asylum seekers and refugees are employed rather than dependent on State support. Employment also contributes to a more cohesive society by encouraging and improving contacts between refugees, asylum seekers and the local community.

The Parliamentary Assembly considers that, taking into account international obligations and the existing European legal framework, member States should do more to ensure that refugees – including people with subsidiary protection – and asylum seekers gain access to and are better integrated into the labour market. More specifically, the Assembly recommends that member States: