UNHCR notes ongoing challenges with respect to access to employment for refugees from
Croatia in host countries in the region, whether due to existing restrictions based in law or a
lack of implementation of more favorable provisions where these exist.
Within the context of the RHP, UNHCR has continuously reiterated to Partner Countries the
commitment they made in the Belgrade Declaration of 7 November 2011 (Joint Declaration on
Ending Displacement and Ensuring Durable Solutions for Vulnerable Refugees and Internally
Displaced Persons) to ensure that a comprehensive solutions-oriented approach is taken to
ensure sustainability. This should include measures to provide for better employment and
livelihood opportunities. UNHCR has, inter alia, requested RHP Partner Countries to provide
more detailed plans for economic and socio-cultural sustainability for any new sub-projects,
including examination of social integration and employment programme opportunities, and has
encouraged good practices from nationally or externally-funded programmes in the region to
be integrated into RHP sub-projects with financial resources identified for this purpose.
UNHCR is pleased to confirm all the newly submitted RHP project proposals provide more
detailed information and corresponding actions that would be undertaken to achieve the
comprehensive, sustainable solutions of the RHP beneficiaries.
UNHCR continues to advocate for improved employment opportunities through income
generation programmes as part of projects undertaken to support the Regional Durable
Solutions Process.
d) Access to acquired pension rights
There was no progress on resolving the issue of outstanding pension payments between Croatia
and Serbia. Consequently, the issue of due, outstanding pensions remains open. The issue
remains on the agenda of a regular coordination body of the RHP, Regional Coordination
Forum, as it is an integral part of the agenda of the Regional Durable Solutions Process (the
Sarajevo Process).
In June 2017, the International Labour Office (ILO) issued its Second supplementary report of
the Director-General: “Report of the Committee set up to examine the representation alleging
non-observance by Croatia of the Maintenance of Migrants’ Pension Rights Convention, 1935
(No. 48), made under article 24 of the ILO Constitution by the Association of Trade Unions of
Pensioners of Serbia (USPS)”.26
In the ILO Report, the following was inter alia concluded: “With regard to persons who resided
in the occupied territories, the situation is extremely complex as the period during which they
resided in the occupied territories varied for each beneficiary, certain pensioners were able to
get judicial redress while others were not and many received payments from the para-funds.
Moreover, as the facts date back to more than 25 years ago, it is uncertain how many persons
26
GB.330/INS/7/2 http://www.ilo.org/gb/GBSessions/GB329/ins/WCMS_559242/lang--en/index.htm
20