New integration measures and changes to existing ones were introduced by the Slovak government through amendments to the Act on Asylum 480/2002 adopted 12 January. The changes are meant to ease the integration of international protection holders (refugees granted asylum and persons with subsidiary protection), as well as asylum seekers, and will come into force on 1 June 2022.

In addition, some of the existing integration measures will be financed through the national budget instead of the EU's Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (AMIF).  

The Slovak interior ministry announced that the aim of the amendments is to assist the initial integration of recognised refugees and persons granted subsidiary protection, and to harmonise Slovak legislation with EU law.

The changes allow asylum seekers easier access to the labour market and increase integration allowances. The amendments also allow asylum seekers to receive social and psychological counselling and to take orientation courses.

Now, asylum applicants are allowed to enter the labour market only nine months after the start of their asylum procedure, which often exacerbates their financial situation. The amendments shorten the waiting period to six months.

For persons already granted protection, the one-off allowances, paid in a lump sum, were increased and will be guaranteed by the state budget.

In addition, the state will also provide refugees with a monthly integration allowance for a period of six months. Those eligible for the allowance will need to submit a written request for it. The allowance builds upon the existing one, paid out to international protection holders involved in AMIF integration projects.

The amendments also allow asylum seekers to benefit from counselling services and socio-cultural orientation courses which were previously only available to international protection holders. The cost of these services will again be covered by the state budget.