The new Pact will strengthen border security, streamline asylum procedures and allow Member States to choose between accepting asylum seekers or providing financial and operational support. Ireland officially opted into the Pact on June 27, 2024, following a vote in both houses of the Oireachtas. While the Pact is legally in effect, Ireland, along with other EU countries, has until June 12, 2026, to fully implement the new regulations. Disinformation campaigns about the EU Pact on Migration and Asylum often frame asylum seekers as an ‘existential threat’ to Irish society. However, these campaigns are usually politically motivated and used to sow confusion and division within Irish communities.
Website: https://ireland.representation.ec.europa.eu/index_en
Migration continues to grow in Ireland. 2024 was the third year with over 100,000 people coming in and Census 2022 reports that 420,465 people in the work force were non-Irish nationals. In terms of socio-economic groupings, nearly half were classified in non-manual, manual skilled, semi-skilled, or unskilled occupations, compared with 39 per cent of Irish nationals. This is a variance with noting the high educational qualifications of immigrants, indicating that many are employed below their skill level. There is a need to accelerate the appropriate recognition of qualifications gained in other countries so that migrants can work in their fields of expertise. This is coupled with the need to provide both decent work and infrastructure to support increasing numbers of immigrants who will need to be housed and whose healthcare and childcare needs must be accommodated.
Website: https://www.socialjustice.ie/
The right to work is essential in ensuring the inclusion of asylum applicants and refugees in their host country, and in guaranteeing that they lead a dignified life. To meet the objectives of international refugee law and facilitate integration, EU asylum law obliges EU MS to provide asylum applicants with access to the labour market no later than nine months after lodging an asylum application. Despite this legal framework, implementation faces hurdles stemming from the varied transposition of EU secondary law, diverse practices among EU MS, and persistent structural challenges that have yet to be effectively addressed.
Numerous challenges impede the right to work for asylum applicants and undermine the principle of non-discrimination in employment. Based on the assessment of the situation across the EU, several challenges restricting employment opportunities for asylum seekers emerge, falling into distinct categories: 1) deterrent reception policies; 2) lack of or insufficient implementation of legal obligations; 3) excessive administrative requirements; 4) practical challenges, namely language barriers, lack of recognition of qualifications and lack of access to vocational training; and 5) discrimination.
Website: https://ecre.org/
The Irish Refugee Council’s ‘Mná nah Éireann Employment Integration from Day One’ program is successful, and it empowers female refugees and migrants to take ownership of their employment opportunities and empowers them through understanding of their employment rights and entitlements. Explains Irelands’ taxation system, and how to register with Irish tax office, along with guidance on financial planning, and how employment affects social welfare, medical card, social housing entitlement and income thresholds for joint family visas. Having this information in one place provides confidence and a structured support for the participants. On the other hand, it bring employers close to talented and hard working persons who they are confident to take on as the IRC is vouching for them having participated in their programme.
Website: https://www.irishrefugeecouncil.ie/
This research is a series of investigations into migration and integration policies, scrutinizing their ramifications on the structural and socio-cultural integration of immigrants. The contributions range from policy analysis, dissecting the content and purpose of national laws and regulations to explorations of policy execution and its impacts at more localized levels. The researcher, King utilized data from the European Union Labour Force survey to examine the impact of migration and integration policies on immigrant marginalization within Europe. His research underscores the significant role played by restrictive immigration policies, labour market institutions, and the welfare state on migrants' experience of marginalization. Complementarily, Kleinewiese employed factorial survey experiments to probe the underpinnings of everyday discrimination against immigrants, revealing that the perception of fairness can mitigate ethnic discrimination.
Emphasis is placed on understanding the role of migration and integration policies in addressing the needs of marginalized immigrant groups, including women and refugees. An overview of the research findings in refugees' labor market challenges and discuss the individual and contextual factors shaping refugees' labor market trajectories. Meanwhile, Kassam and Becker's study focuses on recently arrived Syrian refugees in Germany, shedding light on the importance of ethnic social networks and economic factors in shaping their political engagement. Additionally, Damen et al. analyze recent Syrian refugees in the Netherlands, highlighting the critical role of reception policies and regional unemployment rates in facilitating refugee's employment. Furthermore, Zavisca et al.'s research offers valuable insights into the hardships endured by internally displaced persons as a result of the conflict in Ukraine. Their findings emphasize the profound negative effects of housing deprivation, which significantly undermines both the material and experiential wellbeing of internally displaced individuals.
Website: https://www.frontiersin.org/
The ILO guide highlights challenges faced by migrant workers in getting their qualifications recognised. It discusses:
The document recommends policies that facilitate faster credentialing processes and support programmes to bridge skills gaps through short-term courses. By implementing fair skills recognition practices, countries can maximise the economic contributions of migrant workers while ensuring they are not underemployed in roles beneath their skill levels.
Website: https://www.ilo.org/
The Cedefop report examines the significance of vocational training and skills development in ensuring successful labour market integration for migrants. It outlines strategies for providing adult migrants with targeted upskilling opportunities to bridge gaps in employment.
Key recommendations include:
By improving access to lifelong learning, this report argues that migrants can better integrate into European economies, reducing skills mismatches and unemployment.
Website: https://www.cedefop.europa.eu/
The Council of Europe’s report on Inclusive Integration Strategies highlights the importance of collaborative policymaking at the national and local levels to ensure the successful integration of migrants. The paper explores strategies employed by various European countries to facilitate the social, economic, and cultural inclusion of immigrants.
Key elements of successful integration strategies identified in the report include:
The report provides case studies from different countries, showcasing how diverse approaches to integration can be tailored to national contexts while promoting cohesion and inclusion.
Website: https://www.coe.int/
Denmark has been implementing a housing dispersal policy aimed at preventing the concentration of ethnic minority groups in certain urban areas. This policy, commonly referred to as the ‘Ghetto Law’, has been under scrutiny for years. The European Court of Justice’s Advocate General has now issued an opinion stating that the policy is discriminatory, as it disproportionately affects non-Western immigrants and their access to housing.
Under this law, municipalities were required to reduce the percentage of non-Western residents in designated "ghetto" areas. This was achieved by limiting housing options in these neighbourhoods, forcing residents to relocate to other areas. Critics argued that the law did not address socio-economic issues but rather penalised specific ethnic groups.
The legal challenge was brought forward by affected residents, supported by human rights organisations, who claimed that the policy violated EU anti-discrimination laws. The EU court adviser found that the policy did not meet the proportionality principle and unfairly targeted ethnic minorities based on their background rather than their socio-economic status.
The ruling could have significant implications not only for Denmark but also for other European countries that have implemented similar housing policies aimed at immigrant communities. If upheld by the European Court of Justice, Denmark may be required to revise its integration policies and adopt more inclusive housing strategies.
This case highlights broader issues surrounding national policies on immigrant integration, particularly the balance between housing regulations and anti-discrimination laws. While some argue that dispersal policies promote integration, others contend that they marginalise immigrant communities, reducing their access to social networks, education, and employment opportunities.
The Danish government has defended its policy, stating that it aims to prevent social segregation and promote economic opportunities for all residents. However, human rights groups and immigrant advocacy organisations view the ruling as a major step towards recognising the rights of ethnic minority groups to choose where they live without government interference.
The final decision by the European Court of Justice is expected later this year and will determine whether Denmark must alter its housing policies.
Website: https://www.reuters.com/
This article analyses the European Union’s migration and asylum policies, exploring how they have evolved in response to geopolitical crises, economic shifts, and internal political changes. The Common European Asylum System (CEAS) has been at the forefront of these policies, ensuring minimum standards for asylum seekers. However, disparities in national implementation have led to significant challenges.
Key discussions in this article include:
By examining case studies from various Member States, this article highlights best practices in integration policies and identifies areas needing reform. It further discusses the role of funding mechanisms such as the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (AMIF) in supporting integration initiatives across Europe.
Website: https://home-affairs.ec.europa.eu/