Temporary work permits introduced for Kosovars

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In May 1999, a new regulation was introduced in Luxembourg which allows refugees from the Kosovo region to take up paid employment for a maximum renewable period of six months.

Luxembourg has relatively strict laws covering work permits for employees from non-EU countries. After the recent war broke out in Yugoslavia, the government brought in a special "humanitarian status" giving financial assistance to refugees from the area who were unable to attain political refugee status under the Geneva Convention. However, this measure gave the people concerned no entitlement to take up paid employment.

However, a grand-ducal regulation published on 3 May 1999 now empowers the Minister of Labour and Employment to issue temporary work permits valid for a maximum of six months to people from regions such as Kosovo, known to be in a state of war.

This temporary work permit is valid for a specified employer and for a single job; it ceases to have validity when its term expires, or if the employment relationship is terminated by one of the parties to the contract of employment. It may be renewed for an additional period of six months if the war situation persists. The temporary work permit may be withdrawn from a foreign worker who works at a job other than the one for which the permit was issued.