Author
Beneficiaries of international protection have the right to work in the Republic of Croatia, without a residence and work permit or certificate of registration of work.[1] Both asylees and foreigners under subsidiary protection have access to the labour market, without distinction.
The main obstacle to access the labour market remain the language barrier and the lack of language courses, which is a precondition for successful integration. However, in practice many beneficiaries are working.
In order to achieve a successful integration of asylees and foreigners under subsidiary protection in Croatian society, the Ministry of Science and Education, in cooperation with the Sector for Schengen Coordination and European Union funds of the Ministry of Interior, prepared the project “Integration of refugees and foreigners under subsidiary protection in Croatian society, education and preparation for inclusion in the labour market “.
The project was targeting persons who were granted asylum and subsidiary protection and who wished to attend Croatian language courses, history and culture, or who required the translation of diplomas or certificates for continuation of education or inclusion into the labour market, or who wished to continue primary or secondary education. The project activities were free of charge for beneficiaries and funded by the AMIF.[2] However, in September 2022, the Ministry of Interior took the decision to terminate the agreement with the Ministry of Science and Education related to the implementation of the mentioned project, among other things, since Croatian language courses were not held.[3]
Centre for Peace Studies (CPS),[4] the Rehabilitation Centre for Stress and Trauma (RCT),[5] Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS)[6] and Are You Syrious[7] also reported persisting problems with Croatian language courses. Regarding employment, CPS pointed out the challenges in the recognition of qualifications and nostrification of diplomas when people have documents proving their level of education, as well as the absence of adapted procedures for recognizing qualifications when they do not possess documents. CPS also reported there are insufficiently available re-training programs that are closely related to the lack of knowledge of the Croatian language. In 2023, CPS mapped several cases of discrimination in the workplace or when looking for employment directed at refugee women who wear the hijab. In addition, CPS highlighted the potential increase in violations of the labour rights of refugee workers, given that CPS received an increased number of inquiries about various violations of workers’ rights such as rights to vacation, payment of full salary and related issues.[8]
Many other NGOs such as JRS, CPS, the Rehabilitation Centre for Stress and Trauma, Are you Syrious (AYS), CRP Sisak also provide assistance during integration. The Integration Centre “SOL”, which is run by JRS and was opened in 2018, provides support and guidance to individuals and families in the Republic of Croatia, who have been granted international protection, in their integration process.[9]
The Croatian Law Centre, in cooperation with UNHCR and CES, prepared leaflet on the right to work for applicants for international protection, persons granted international protection and foreigners under temporary protection.[10]
The Croatian Employment Service (CES) is responsible for the implementation of measures in the field of employment of foreigners, with particular emphasis on asylees and foreigners under subsidiary protection. According to the Law on the Labour Market, asylee and foreigner under subsidiary protection and foreigner under temporary protection, as well as their family members may apply to the CES. According to this Law, they are equal with Croatian citizens in terms of rights and obligations.[11]
When applying for inclusion in the registry of unemployed persons, CES assigns employment counsellors to beneficiaries of international protection. They provide assistance and information about available jobs, how to compile resumes and applications to employers, and gives them the opportunity to use measures an active policy of employment and the exercise of other rights. They also inform them about their obligations as unemployed persons.[12]
To access the assistance provided by CES, a person should register with the CES by e-mail or by visiting its regional offices. In order to register with CES, a person need an identity card issued by the Ministry of Interior, proving their immigration status in Croatia, a personal identification number (‘OIB,’ in Croatian), and if available, a proof of any education or training a person may have completed (not mandatory).[13]
According to CES, 44 asylees (of which 22 women), 7 foreigners under subsidiary protection (of which 4 women), 5 members of families of persons that were granted international protection (of which 4 women), 5 applicants for international protection (of which 2 women) and 476 persons under temporary protection (of which 396 women) were inscribed in their registry as unemployed on 31 December 2023.[14] According to the data of the CES from January 1 until December 2023, 74 asylees, 10 persons under subsidiary protection, 6 members of families of persons under international protection, 22 applicants for international protection and 848 persons under temporary protection were provided individual counselling at CES.
Through the CSE’s mediation during 2023, 88 people were employed (49 asylees, 9 foreigners under subsidiary protection, 4 members of families of persons under international protection and 26 applicants for international protection), 25 of which were women.
In addition, 1 member of family of person under international protection, 1 person under subsidiary protection, 6 applicants for international protection and 89 foreigners under temporary protection were included in active employment policy measures. Most of the persons registered were from Ukraine (478), Syria (21), Afghanistan (11), and Russia (7).
Similarly to previous years, the lack of knowledge of Croatian and/or English as well as a low motivation to learn the language and to be engaged in other programmes that can raise the chances of gaining employment, was highlighted as a major obstacles to the integration of beneficiaries of protection.[15]
[1] Article 68(1) LITP.
[2] Ministry of Science and Education: Information on Croatian language courses and translation of diplomas and certificates for persons with asylum status or persons under subsidiary protection, 3 February 2021, available at: https://bit.ly/3jrADX3.
[3] Ministry of Interior: Decision on the cancellation of the Decision on the allocation of financial resources for the implementation of the project “Integration of asylees and foreigners under subsidiary protection into Croatian society, education and preparation for inclusion in the labor market”; available in Croatian at: https://bit.ly/3lzxqtk.
[4] Information provided by Centre for Peace Studies, 30 January 2024.
[5] Information provided by the Rehabilitation Centre for Stress and Trauma, 30 January 2024.
[6] Information provided by JRS, 5 February 2024.
[7] Information provided by Are you Syrious, 29 January 2024,
[8] Information provided by Centre for Peace Studies, 30 January 2024.
[9] JRS, ‘Refuge Integration Centre “SOL” opened’, 2018, available at: https://bit.ly/3chtSBs.
[10] Leaflet was created as part of the project ‘Legal Assistance and Capacity Building for Access to Territory and Asylum in Croatia’ funded by UNHCR, with contributions from non-governmental organizations: the Croatian Red Cross, the Jesuit Refugee Service, and Association SVOJA available at: https://bit.ly/3RyR84W.
[11] Article 14 Law on the Labour Market.
[12] Croatian Association of Social Workers: Handbook- The role of social welfare in the process of integration of persons with international protection, available at: https://bit.ly/3xhMv64.
[13] Croatian Law Centre: brochure „The right to work – applicants for international protection, persons granted international protection and foreigners under temporary protection, available in English at: https://bit.ly/4ctotXh.
[14] Information provided by the Croatian Employment Service, 15 January 2024.
[15] Ombudsperson for Gender Equality, Report of the Ombudsperson for Gender Equality for 2023, available in Croatian at: https://bit.ly/4cnY4Kn, 247.