Working conditions for asylum seekers and undocumented migrants in Austria

You are not allowed to work legally in Austria during your asylum procedure. 
NOTE: If you get caught working illegally it can lead to detention and deportation so take care.

If your asylum procedure is already running for three months and you have somebody who would give you work, this person can -under certain circumstances which are defined in the aliens law "Ausländerbeschäftigungsgesetz"- apply for a working permit ("Beschäftigungsbewilligung").

If you are granted asylum or you are under subsidiary protection ("Subsidiärer Schutz"), you have full access to the austrian labour market. You have to go to register with the state Jobservice ("AMS/Arbeitsmarktservice") where you can also gain access to a german course. They will try and find a job for you, but if you want to work, best is to look for a job yourself because the jobs offered by the Jobservice could be any jobs which might not meet your interests at all.

It is important to note, that it is not so easy to get a job in Austria. Lots of workplaces demand good German skills and some people will not hire migrants for racist reasons even though that's illegal. It's not impossible though to find a job with proper working conditions, just keep in mind that it might be an exhausting and time-taking procedure.

Organising / labour rights

Right now there are people trying to organize support/union structures for undocumented workers. In case of legal problems at your workplace (for example: outstanding wages) contact: welcome2austria(at)riseup.net

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