The barriers keeping refugees and asylum seekers out of the labor market
“We have no other choice. We will have to terminate his contract. I’m sorry.”
These were the words an employer used when informing an Employment Counsellor from the organization’s Employment Service that they were forced to dismiss a worker who had only recently been hired with the support of the team.
Not because he was unable to do his job or because he lacked the willingness to work. But because he was unable to complete the administrative procedures required for his employment in time.
Unfortunately, this is far from an isolated incident.
In recent years, the SolidarityNow Employment Service has seen a growing number of employers hesitate to hire refugees and asylum seekers or even discontinue employment processes that had already begun. Not because of prejudice, nor because candidates lack the necessary qualifications, but because bureaucracy turns recruitment into a lengthy, uncertain and time-consuming process.
The paradox is striking. At a time when the Greek labor market is facing acute staff shortages, particularly in manufacturing, hospitality, tourism, construction and many other sectors, people who are willing and able to work remain excluded, not by the labor market itself, but by administrative procedures.
We encounter such cases daily.
At a manufacturing company in Thessaloniki, one employee had to miss work on seven separate occasions to complete the procedures for obtaining a Social Security Registration Number (AMA) and opening a bank account. The repeated absences ultimately led to the termination of his employment.
In other cases, employers who had collaborated with our Employment Service for years and had consistently hired refugees informed us that they would no longer consider candidates who did not already possess an AMA and an active bank account. Not because they questioned their abilities, but because they could no longer bear the cost, delays and uncertainty associated with completing the required administrative procedures.
Beneficiaries describe similar experiences themselves. Many have successfully completed interviews and received job offers, only to lose the opportunity because they could not obtain the required documentation in time. Businesses need staff immediately and cannot wait weeks or even months for procedures that should be straightforward and routine.
When a Simple Procedure Becomes an Administrative Maze
Recently, we have observed another serious challenge. The PAAYPA (Temporary Social Security and Healthcare Number for Foreign Nationals) assigned to asylum seekers is frequently deactivated without prior notice.
To reactivate it, individuals must first contact the Reception Facility where they reside. The facility then communicates with the Asylum Service to request reactivation. Afterwards, a new appointment with the Social Security Institution (e-EFKA) is required to obtain an AMA. If the individual does not have Taxisnet credentials, an additional visit is necessary, as the AMA is no longer issued on the spot but becomes available several days later.
A procedure that could easily be completed electronically is instead transformed into a chain of appointments, waiting periods and administrative delays.
The consequences are clear. Employees are forced to repeatedly request time off work, employers lose valuable productivity, and public services become overwhelmed with cases that could be handled far more efficiently.
And Once That Is Resolved, a Second Challenge Begins
Opening a bank account often proves to be an even greater obstacle.
Through our Employment Service, we have encountered banks that refuse to open accounts for asylum seekers even when they hold a valid employment contract. Others require the presence of one or even two certified interpreters, who must also sign the banking documents. In cases involving people experiencing homelessness, declarations of accommodation or certificates issued by municipal shelters have even been rejected as proof of address.
In other words, a person may have secured a job, possess all the legal documentation required to work, and have an employer ready to hire them, yet still be unable to receive their salary because they cannot open a bank account.
At the same time, different banks, and even different branches of the same bank, often apply inconsistent practices and request different supporting documents, creating uncertainty for both employees and employers alike.
In many cases, these issues are resolved only through the persistence of social workers, employment counsellors or even employers themselves, who are forced to invest significant time and effort in navigating procedures that should function smoothly without external intervention.
Everyone Loses
Employment is the single most important pathway to inclusion. It enables economic independence, dignified living and meaningful participation in society.
Today, however, the greatest barrier is neither employers’ willingness to hire nor refugees’ and asylum seekers’ willingness to work. It is an administrative system that continues to generate delays, inconsistencies and unnecessary bureaucracy.
As a result, everyone loses; people seeking the opportunity to rebuild their lives, businesses struggling to fill critical vacancies, social services that are compelled to compensate for administrative shortcomings and ultimately the Greek economy itself.
Removing these barriers is not simply a matter of protecting rights. It is a prerequisite for a labor market that functions efficiently and benefits workers, businesses and society.
