Greece Plans to Integrate Sudanese Refugees to Fill Thousands of Job Vacancies

Athens – Sudanese Echoes

The Greek news site ekathimerini disclosed a new plan by the Ministry of Migration and Asylum that will allow thousands of refugees, including Sudanese, to enter the labor market directly, in a move aimed at addressing severe shortages in agriculture, tourism, and construction sectors.

The plan, presented by Minister of Migration and Asylum, Thanos Plevris, to Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, focuses on directing recognized refugees toward jobs experiencing significant labor deficits. Authorities estimate that the market will require an additional 200,000 workers over the next five years to maintain a 2% economic growth rate.

Sudanese refugees occupy a prominent place in the plan, as the Greek government considers them among the most ready-to-work groups in agriculture, due to their experience in cultivating cotton, wheat, and maize. They will be received at “second-level centers,” where they will receive vocational training and Greek language lessons before being directly assigned to farms.

Estimates indicate that the new system could provide around 20,000 workers annually, totaling approximately 60,000 over five years after accounting for departures. Regions such as Thessaly, Phthiotis, and Northern Greece will serve as primary pilot centers.

Data also show that about 15% of recognized refugees are women, opening wide opportunities for them in the tourism and hospitality sectors, while Sudanese refugees are expected to form the backbone of the agricultural workforce.

The government emphasizes that the plan aims to make asylum a gateway for labor market integration rather than a means to receive financial aid. Social benefits will be significantly reduced in exchange for training and job opportunities.