Work & workplace rights

Access to work is one of the main access barriers reported by refugees and asylum-seekers. It has become a pressing need due to the negative economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, and recent regulatory changes to the asylum system limiting access to work permits.  People UNHCR serves located in the “Huetar Norte” region experience limited access to income earning opportunities because they are settled in the poorest cantons in the country,with the highest historic percentages of population in poverty (31.9%) since 2010. Other barriers for asylum-seekers and refugees include: 

Increased access barriers to work permits and formal employment of the asylum-seeker population.Employment and self-employment processes require valid country of origin legal documents and proof of experience that are difficult to attain.