In the month of World Refugee Day, observed on 20 June, the Belgrade Centre for Human Rights recalls the importance of solidarity, equal opportunities, and the inclusion of refugees in the community. One of the most important steps towards a dignified, safe, and independent life is access to the labour market.
Within the project “Support to Refugees and Asylum Seekers in Exercising Rights and Integration in the Republic of Serbia”, implemented by the Belgrade Centre for Human Rights with the support of Church World Service — CWS, we have prepared the information brochure “Refugees and the Labour Market in Serbia: A Guide for Employers”.
The brochure is intended for companies, institutions, and all employers who wish to become better acquainted with the possibilities of employing refugees, asylum seekers, and persons granted temporary protection in the Republic of Serbia. It contains practical information on the legal framework, procedures, required documentation, access to qualifications, and ways in which employers can include refugees in their teams.
The idea behind the brochure is to bring employers closer not only to the legal and administrative aspects of hiring refugees, but also to the broader values that such employment carries. We wanted to further encourage them to recognise the social significance of their role, as well as the potential that refugees bring to the working environment — through their knowledge, experience, languages, professional skills, perseverance, and willingness to contribute to the community in which they live.
Employing refugees is not only a matter of access to work — it is an important part of integration, building trust, and creating communities based on equality and mutual respect. It has a strong social dimension: it enables people who were forced to leave their homes to rebuild a sense of security, dignity, and belonging, while at the same time contributing to the development of companies, strengthening teams, and fostering social cohesion.
With the improvement of the legislative framework in Serbia, refugees, persons granted temporary protection, and asylum seekers are, under certain conditions, provided with easier access to the labour market, without additional administrative barriers that apply to other categories of foreigners. This creates space for employers, with clear information and support, to actively contribute to a more inclusive and fair labour market.
The Belgrade Centre for Human Rights continues to provide support to employers, refugees, and institutions in the process of employment and integration. We believe that the workplace can be a space of encounter, support, and equal opportunities — a place where a safer future, dignity, and a sense of belonging are built.
The brochure is available to all employers who wish to learn how they can contribute to creating a more open, responsible, and inclusive business environment.
The brochure in Serbian is HERE.
