Joint UNHCR/IOM Press Release

UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, and IOM, the International Organization for Migration, welcome the amendment that was voted in Parliament today and includes key provisions facilitating legal employment for migrants and asylum-seekers in Greece.

Key aspects of the amendment involve the issuance of a three-year residence permit for foreign nationals without a permit, who have been staying in Greece for three consecutive years until 30 November 2023, provided they can present a job offer. It also reduces the time until asylum-seekers have to wait to acquire the right to work from six months to 60 days after lodging their asylum request.

IOM and UNHCR have repeatedly emphasized the mutual benefits of creating legal employment opportunities for refugees and asylum-seekers and migrants, particularly at a time of a shortage of labour in several sectors of the Greek economy. Such initiatives not only bolster economic growth but also serve as a crucial safeguard against exploitation.

“The law, voted into force by the Greek Parliament, constitutes an important step forward for the management of migration in Greece, enabling migrants already in the country to participate in socioeconomic and cultural aspects of society, whilst also contributing to the economy. It also serves to strengthen the access of migrants not only to the job market, but also to fundamental rights. It will also respond to the labour market needs of Greece to tackle challenges faced by employers and thus support broader sustainable economic development in the country,” said Gianluca Rocco, Chief of the IOM Mission in Greece.

On her part, the UNHCR Representative in Greece, Maria Clara Martin, stated: “These measures are a step in the right direction. They respond in a pragmatic manner to workforce needs in Greece’s productive sectors that remain unfulfilled and promptly puts asylum-seekers on the path to self-reliance and inclusion, which in the end will yield significant socio-economic returns for all”.

“The amendment is a positive example of political will to dismantle barriers that render people invisible and marginalized, contributing to the broader prosperity of the Greek economy and society”, she added.

UNHCR and IOM will continue to support Greece in efforts to identify and implement humane and realistic solutions, advocating for policies that uphold dignity and socio-economic advancement.