The Belgrade Centre for Human Rights, with the support of the International Rescue Committee (IRC) through the project “Legal Aid and Integration Support for Refugees”, organized a roundtable discussion on “Implementation of the Law on Foreigners and the Law on Employment of Foreigners – New Developments in the Context of Refugees and Asylum Seekers” on 16 May 2024 at the Metropol Hotel in Belgrade.
The event aimed to support the continued implementation of the Law on Foreigners and the Law on Employment of Foreigners by fostering partnerships with relevant stakeholders and socially responsible companies employing persons under temporary protection, refugees, asylum seekers, and other foreigners. Two panel discussions were held, bringing together representatives of relevant institutions, organizations working with refugees, and the business sector to share their experiences and perspectives on the recent changes in access to the labour market.
The roundtable was opened by Gordana Ivković-Grujić, Director of the International Rescue Committee – IRC Serbia, and Jelena Ilić, Coordinator of the Asylum and Migration Programme at the Belgrade Centre for Human Rights.
Speakers at the first panel included Sanja Gavranović, Head of the Group for Administrative and Supervisory Affairs in the Field of Employment at the Ministry of Labour, Employment, Veteran and Social Affairs; Svetlana Milović from the National Employment Service; and Miljan Krstonijević from the Commissariat for Refugees and Migration of the Republic of Serbia.
The panel presented the main novelties introduced by the amended laws, which have been in effect since 1 February 2024 and enable easier access to the Serbian labour market. Refugees and asylum seekers no longer require a work permit and now have open access to the labour market, in line with practices in EU countries. Access to employment is granted six months after submitting an asylum application, eliminating high administrative fees and complex procedures previously required. For other categories of foreigners, a new single permit has been introduced, combining residence and work authorization into one.
According to the National Employment Service, since the beginning of 2024, a total of 13,464 work permits have been issued to foreigners, including 321 personal work permits, 12 of which were granted to asylum seekers. Foreigners as members of special categories received 16 work permits in total—issued to asylum seekers from Iran, Pakistan, Cuba, Burundi, Cameroon, Syria, Algeria, India, and Russia. Refugees from Ukraine were issued 83 work permits since the beginning of the year.
The second panel focused on the role of civil society in supporting the integration of refugees and asylum seekers into the labour market, as well as on the importance of socially responsible business practices in creating new employment opportunities that foster economic empowerment and independence.
The employers’ perspective was presented by Jelena Jevtović from the Serbian Association of Employers. Ljiljana Popović from IKEA Serbia shared the company’s experience in employing refugees and asylum seekers, while Katarina Ejdus from the social enterprise Women on the Way spoke about social entrepreneurship and the employment of women from the refugee population. Dragana Mitrović from ADRA Serbia highlighted the challenges refugees and asylum seekers face in the integration process and emphasized the role of local communities in supporting successful integration.
The panels were moderated by Jelena Ilić and Milena Ančić from the Belgrade Centre for Human Rights. The event gathered more than 70 participants from ministries and other state institutions, embassies, international organizations, civil society organizations, and the private sector. Following the panel discussions, participants had the opportunity to engage in an open dialogue and exchange experiences related to the new legal changes in this area.
During the past year, the Belgrade Centre for Human Rights actively participated in working groups for amending the Law on Foreigners and the Law on Employment of Foreigners, advocating for an easier exercise of the right to work for refugees and asylum seekers in Serbia. The amendments were adopted in July 2023, and the provisions concerning refugees and asylum seekers entered into force on 1 February 2024.
The roundtable “Implementation of the Law on Foreigners and the Law on Employment of Foreigners – New Developments in the Context of Refugees and Asylum Seekers” was held as part of the project “Legal Aid and Integration Support for Refugees”, implemented by the Belgrade Centre for Human Rights with the support of the International Rescue Committee (IRC).
