Skip over main navigation
  • Log in
  • Basket: (0 items)
Irish Refugee Council
Tagline goes here
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • YouTube
Get Help  Donate
  • Twitter
Menu
  • About Us
    • Who we are
      • Vision, values & purpose
      • How we work
    • Our Team
    • Media Centre
      • News
      • Press Releases
      • Archive
      • Press contact
    • Vacancies
    • Governance
      • Charity regulations
      • Accounts & Finances
      • Board of Directors
    • Our Covid-19 response
    • Strategy & Impact
    • Our History
    • Our Partners
  • Policy & Advocacy
    • Overview
    • Publications
  • Ukraine/Україна
    • Ukraine information hub/ Україна інформаційна hub
  • What We Do
    • Services
      • Drop-In Centre
      • Law Centre
      • Best Practice
        • Early Legal Advice
        • Interpreter training
    • Get Help
      • Need Support?
      • Client in-take form
      • Get Legal Advice
      • Useful Information
        • Information Notes
        • FAQs
        • Family Reunification FAQs
        • Definitions
      • Support Groups
    • Supports
      • Housing
      • Employment
      • Education
      • Youth Work
      • Resettlement
      • Community Sponsorship
    • Networks
    • Outreach
      • Schools
      • Interpreter training
  • Get Involved
    • Why support us?
    • Ways to support
      • Donate
      • Stand for Refugee Rights: Become a Member
      • Membership Renewal
      • Cooking with Refugees
      • Putting Down Roots, Education Fundraiser
      • Tax Efficient Giving
      • Fundraise for us
      • Raise awareness
      • Partner with us
      • Leave a Gift in my Will
      • Community sponsorship
    • Work for us
  • Contact us
  • Admin
    • Log in
  • Basket: (0 items)
  • Mná nah Éireann Integration From Day One project. March 2022

    Read more

  • DLA Piper’s ‘Know Your Rights’ programme announces a partnership with Deloitte to provide paid employment for refugees and asylum seekers in Ireland

    DLA Piper’s ‘Know Your Rights’ programme announces a partnership with Deloitte to provide paid employment for refugees and asylum seekers in Ireland

    Read more

  • Whistleblowing Resources for Migrant Workers published

    Read more

  • Mná nah Éireann Integration From Day One project. March 2022
  • DLA Piper’s ‘Know Your Rights’ programme announces a partnership with Deloitte to provide paid employment for refugees and asylum seekers in Ireland
  • Whistleblowing Resources for Migrant Workers published
  • Next
  • Prev
  1. Home
  2. Employment

Employment

Employment not only helps to provide financial stability, it also provides a sense of purpose and belonging, nurturing connection to community 

The lack of knowledge of the Irish labour market and recruitment processes, non-recognition of prior work experience and/or qualifications, and limited English language skills pose a significant challenge to finding work often, which is compounded by the experience of ‘institutionalisation’ under the Direct Provision system. The situation for women is further exacerbated due to the lack of sufficient childcare supports.  

The right to work for people seeking protection

The Irish Refugee Council has consistently advocated for people seeking protection to be allowed to work. In May 2017 the Supreme Court of Ireland declared that the Irish government’s decision to ban indefinitely people from working was unconstitutional. In January 2021 the time a person must wait to apply for permission to work was reduced from nine months to six months.

Employment Supports 

Our Employment Guide is a step by step guide for people in the international protection system seeking employment or looking to start a business.

Employment Guide

Our dedicated Employment team work on a number of initiatives assisting people seeking protection in Ireland to overcome barriers to access employment, including our Women's Employment Programme and our Business and Entrepreneur Incubator Project, read more below. 

Email Amaka Email Mavis 

Our Employment work is supported by Rethink Ireland, the European Social Fund and Indeed. 

 

Read more about our Employment work: 

Mná nah Éireann Integration From Day One project. March 2022

Read more

Published: 8th March, 2022

Author: Nicholas Henderson

DLA Piper’s ‘Know Your Rights’ programme announces a partnership with Deloitte to provide paid employment for refugees and asylum seekers in Ireland

DLA Piper’s ‘Know Your Rights’ programme announces a partnership with Deloitte to provide paid employment for refugees and asylum seekers in Ireland

Read more

Published: 17th February, 2022

Author: Nicholas Henderson

Whistleblowing Resources for Migrant Workers published

Read more

Published: 15th February, 2022

Author: Nicholas Henderson

International Women's Day 2021

International Women's Day 2021

Read more

Published: 8th March, 2021

Author: Nicholas Henderson

Women's Employment Programme

Providing women with pre-employment training, one-to-one mentoring and supported work experience Read more

Published: 6th April, 2020

Updated: 11th September, 2022

Author: Vikki Walshe

Business and Entrepreneur Incubator Project

Business and Entrepreneur Incubator Project

Supporting people in establishing businesses through training, support, resources and development Read more

Published: 5th April, 2020

Updated: 19th April, 2020

Author: Vikki Walshe

Important and welcome changes to the right to work but problematic elements remain

Important and welcome changes to the right to work but problematic elements remain

Read more

Published: 27th June, 2018

Updated: 9th April, 2020

Author: Vikki Walshe

Counting the Cost: Barriers to employment after Direct Provision

Counting the Cost: Barriers to employment after Direct Provision

An analysis of peoples experience trying to access employment after the Direct Provision system Read more

Published: 24th May, 2014

Updated: 25th November, 2022

Author: Vikki Walshe

Back to top

Showing 10 of 8

Latest

  • Do people lodge endless appeals when refused protection?

  • Why are refugees still coming from Ukraine, is Ireland taking more refugees from Ukraine than other countries?

  • Why has there been an increase in people seeking protection in Ireland in recent months 2022?

  • How are people seeking protection accommodated and do they get automatic access to housing?

Most read

  • Ukraine information note (updated 21 October)

    Ukraine information note (updated 21 October)

  • Vacancies: Office Manager, Fundraising Manager, Homeless Support Caseworker

    Vacancies: Office Manager, Fundraising Manager, Homeless Support Caseworker

  • Ukrainian language information helpline/Інформаційна лінія українською мовою

    Ukrainian language information helpline/Інформаційна лінія українською мовою

  • Donate to support refugees in Ireland

    Donate to support refugees in Ireland

  • Housing/Житло, Important/важливо risk of homelessness

    Housing/Житло, Important/важливо risk of homelessness

  • Contact us

  • Support refugees from Ukraine

  • Information note: 2022 regularisation scheme now open

    Information note: 2022 regularisation scheme now open

  • Who we are

    Who we are

  • Information and Advocacy Service

    Information and Advocacy Service

Our response to the Covid-19 pandemic

Read more

Published: 27th April, 2020

Updated: 12th June, 2020

Author: Nicholas Henderson

  • FAQs
  • Contact us
  • Sitemap
  • Accessibility
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Privacy policy

Registered office
37 Killarney Street
Dublin 1
D01 NX74

Phone: 00 353 1 764 5062
Fax: 00 353 1 672 5927
Email: [email protected]

CHY Number: 10153
Registered Charity Number: 20025724
CRO Number: 188693

Sign up for our newsletter

Please enter your first name
Please enter your last name
Please enter your email address Please enter a valid email address (e.g. [email protected])
Manage Cookie Preferences