Author
In 2023, the IPA was amended and the time frame for access to the labour market was shortened. Asylum applicants now acquire the right to free access to the labour market three months after they have lodged their application if the decision in their procedure has not yet been taken by the Migration directorate and the delay cannot be attributed to the asylum applicant.[1]
Once asylum applicants have the right to free access to the labour market, they can access self-employment, employment and work without meeting other requirements such as consent of the Employment Service to the single residence permit and work permit or EU Blue Card or seasonal work permit. The Ministry of the Interior only issues them a notice stating that they meet the above-mentioned conditions.[2]
In practice, due to lack of work force, asylum applicants are able to obtain work in Slovenia especially in fields where physical work is required. However, they often face difficulties and are not able to obtain higher skilled employment for which they were trained, educated or have performed in their country of origin. In practice, asylum applicants face systematic and practical obstacles when searching for work and employment such as the language barrier, cultural differences, lack of certificates bringing evidence of education, lack of work experience, medical problems, discrimination, structural imbalances in the labour market and lack of employers’ trust.[3] In addition, asylum applicants are often unable to open the bank accounts that will be necessary if they obtain employment, as Slovenian banks are reluctant to accept asylum applicants as clients. The statistics on the number of employed asylum applicants are not available. According to the official statistics, 41 asylum seekers were registered as unemployed by the end of the year. However, registering as unemployed is not necessary for all asylum seekers with access to the labour market or looking for employment.[4]
When the UOIM was established in 2017, one of its responsibilities was integration of asylum applicants into the labour market. In practice, NGOs also help asylum applicants find employment. In order to improve their employment prospects, the Employment Services in Ljubljana and Maribor employ special staff who are responsible for assisting asylum applicants and other migrants. The Employment services provide assistance with entering the work force, finding employment, recognition of education, additional trainings and obtaining qualifications as well as accessing the rights arising from labour (e.g., unemployment benefits, etc.)
After three months, applicants are also allowed access to vocational trainings.[5] In practice asylum applicants prefer to find employment and enter vocational trainings after obtaining international protection.
[1] Article 87(1) IPA.
[2] Article 6 Employment, Self-Employment and Work of Foreigners Act, Official Gazette of RS, No. 47/15 and 10/17.
[3] EMN, Focused Study: Integration of beneficiaries of international/humanitarian protection into the labour market, 2015, available here.
[4] Official statistics provided by the Employment Service of Slovenia, March 2025.
[5] Article 87(2) IPA.