Only for Slovenia and Germany: 55,000 Work Permits Issued to BiH Citizens Since 2013

SARAJEVO, (Patria) – During 2019, 683 work permits were issued to BiH citizens for caregivers in Germany. Unlike 2018 when that number was 1,000 due to changed procedures in 2019, the number is somewhat smaller. 

Regarding the employment of nurses and caregivers from BiH in Germany, since the application of the Agreement in 2013, more than 5,000 work permits have been issued. 

„The Federal Republic of Germany has not accepted diplomas of completed medical school for general and pediatric nursing obtained through retraining in either public or private schools since February 2019, nor is it possible to establish an employment relationship as a caregiver with diplomas obtained through retraining,“ announced the Labor and Employment Agency of BiH. Candidates are advised to submit, along with their application, in addition to the appropriate diploma, certificates of all completed grades of secondary school, translated into German.

Also, all candidates who submit their applications to the Labor and Employment Agency of BiH must have a certificate of German language proficiency aligned with the requirements of the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in BiH.

Regarding work permits for Slovenia, by the end of October 2019, 12,430 work permits were issued. In 2018, nearly 14,000 workers went to Slovenia, and the trend of BiH citizens leaving continues. There are more and more women in the lines in front of the Slovenian Embassy.

Since 2013, nearly 50,000 work permits have been issued to BiH citizens for Slovenia. BiH and Slovenia have had an interstate agreement on employment for all occupations since 2013. While Slovenia imports labor from BiH, the real sector in BiH is left without urgently needed qualified workers who leave for a better life and higher wages. According to the structure of workers, the most are drivers and welders with 23% each, followed by bricklayers 7%, metalworkers 4%, and other occupations in smaller percentages, according to data from the Labor and Employment Agency.