Austria has decided to implement a new law to grant internally displaced Ukrainians unrestricted access to the Austrian job market.
The Austrian Federal Council has approved a bill revising the existing regulations on foreign employment.
Following the new law, Ukrainians can obtain a “Red-White-Red Plus Card” (RWR+), allowing them to live and work in Austria as self-employed or employed individuals. This card does not restrict industry, company, or geographic location, Schengen.News reports.
The RWR+ offers several significant rights and benefits for Ukrainian refugees in Austria, which are as follows:
- Full Access to the Labour Market: Cardholders can work anywhere in Austria without industry, company, or location restrictions.
- Residency Rights: The card allows residents in Austria to reside as internally displaced persons.
- Path to Permanent Residency: After holding the RWR+ for five years, individuals can apply for a permanent residence permit within the EU.
- Family Reunification: Cardholders can bring their family members to Austria.
- Extended Stay: Even after the temporary protection status (valid until April 3, 2025) expires, the RWR+ remains valid, and the cardholder can continue residing in Austria. Although social assistance is not available under temporary protection, the RWR+ remains unaffected for existing holders.
Additionally, time spent in Austria under temporary protection counts toward the five-year residency requirement for permanent residency and the six-year requirement for citizenship.
Eligibility Requirements for Ukrainian Refugees to Obtain the RWR+ Card
To qualify for the RWR+, Ukrainian refugees with an identity card for displaced persons must meet the below criteria:
- Employment History
- Full Insurance & Employment
- Residence Permit
- Valid Passport
- Financial Self-Sufficiency
In the first four months of this year alone, Austria approved over 3,200 applications for the RWR+, representing a nearly 35 per cent increase compared to last year.
Recent data by Statistics Austria indicated a significant rise in the number of skilled workers from third countries coming to Austria for employment. As a result, Austria’s Labour Minister Martin Kocher (ÖVP) projects that this number might reach 10,000 by the end of the year, with continued growth expected.
As per international standards, the number of unemployed individuals rose to 240,900 in 2023. Despite this, the number of people employed also increased, reaching 4.5 million.
