Your Rights to Work Labour Office Online Tools For Ukrainians Need Help & Counselling? Tips to Stay Safe Problems at Work? Job Portals Requalification & Courses Coursera for Refugees
Employment is a key step in rebuilding your life in Czechia. Refugees, asylum-seekers and people with temporary protection have the right to work here, but the rules and conditions can differ depending on your status. Knowing your rights, using official services, and getting support from trusted organisations can help you find safe and fair work opportunities. This page explains how to find a job, what support is available, and how to protect yourself at work. It also provides links to official job portals, training opportunities, and organisations that can guide you step by step.
1. Registering with the Labour Office (Úřad práce ČR)
Your right to work depends on your legal status and type of residence permit:
Asylum-seekers. If you are an asylum-seeker, you can start working 6 months after your asylum application has been registered. However, you will need a work permit. A social worker can help you to apply for a work permit at a local Labour Office once you have a job offer. 
Registration is mandatory if you want to use Labour Office services and benefits (job matching, requalification courses, allowances). You must register at your local branch.
Recognised refugees and people with subsidiary or temporary protection have free access to the labour market (no work permit required) under the same conditions as Czech citizens, with possibility to run a business or be self-employed (for this necessary to open a trade license — živnost).
Stateless persons or applicants. If you are a recognised stateless person in Czechia, you have the right to work under the same conditions as Czech citizens. If you have applied for stateless status, you may begin working 6 months after your application is registered.
What help is available from the Labour Office?
The Labour Office is the main state institution that supports job-seekers in Czechia and is there to support you in finding work and building your skills. Refugees are entitled to Labour Office support, including unemployment benefits and retraining benefits. To access these services, you must register at your local Labour Office.
It offers a wide range of services, all free of charge:
Job search support: matching vacancies and guiding you through applications. Counselling: individual advice in different languages. Training and requalification: vocational courses and skill‑building programmes. Financial support: help with some costs linked to training, education or work search. Interpreting: interpreters (most often Ukrainian and sometimes English) can be arranged by prior booking. For appointments outside Prague, request this in advance so an interpreter can be allocated for your visit.
Find your nearest Labour Office branch Contact Info Feedback & Complaint Website
Get up-to-date information on your right to work in Czechia and the conditions of employment.
Online tools:
Jenda (client zone) is an online portal of the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs, where you can register and access it via electronic identification (such as Bank iD, eObčanka, or another recognised login method). Through Jenda you can manage many tasks without visiting Labour Office in person. For example, you can: Register as a jobseeker. Apply for unemployment, housing or other social benefits. Submit documents electronically. Track the status of your applications. Communicate securely with the Labour Office.
Volná místa (Vacancies): the official nationwide database from Labour Office of current job openings. Filter by region, profession, posting date, and apply directly from the listing. You can also set up email alerts.
Official Telegram (UA): Úřad práce runs an official Ukrainian‑language Telegram channel with vacancies, guides and updates.
The English version of some Labour Office pages may be outdated. Use the Czech pages for the most complete and current information.
2. Where to seek help with employment
Labour Office services (free):
| Individual counselling about job search and the labour market. Referrals to requalification (vocational) courses and other training. Guidance on benefits for jobseekers. Information for foreigners and contact forms. |
EURES advisers (free, part of the Labour Office):
| Personal or online consultations (book in advance). Help choosing a course or training, and checking eligibility for support. CV and cover‑letter support; preparation for interviews. Information on living and working conditions; opportunities in Czechia and across the EU. |
NGOs and independent help:
| OPU: Basic employment counselling and legal assistance (free of charge). UNHCR’s partner OPU can provide information on the rights and obligations of employers and employees. They can support you with finding legal employment (for example, applying for a work permit, writing a CV, or searching for vacancies), review your work contract, and provide basic legal assistance if you have issues with your employer. La Strada: Support in case of exploitation (free of charge).If you are facing problems at work — such as being forced to work long hours, working without a contract, being underpaid or not paid at all, having unexplained deductions from your salary, or having your personal documents taken away — you can contact La Strada. La Strada provides free legal and social counselling, assistance in cases of labour exploitation, and runs an anonymous SOS helpline. Even if you are not sure whether your situation is legal or safe, you can call the helpline for confidential advice. Local Integration Centres (Integrační centra): Regional counselling, job search support, Czech language courses. |
3. Safe and fair employment: practical tips
Know your employee rights. Check the current rules on minimum wage, working hours, overtime, holidays, sick leave, work accident compensation and contracts. Look for official summaries from Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs (new amendment to the Labour Code, called the “flexi‑novela”, entered into force on 1 June 2025).
Use official/verified sources to protect yourself from harmful employment offers. Job offers can be shared on social networks, but prefer verified channels (e.g., the Labour Office Telegram or the Volná místa database). Avoid offers that:
do not name the employer, ask for fees from workers, or pressure you to start “immediately” without a written contract.
Always check the employer before applying. Make sure the company is active and transparent — for example, by reviewing its website, social media presence, and feedback from current or former employees. This will give you a better sense of what it is like to work there. If you are unsure about the legitimacy of a job offer, ask a trusted organisation (such as an NGO or the Labour Office) for advice. 
If you apply via an employment agency (agentura práce), verify its licence in the official MPSV register. If the agency does not appear in the register with a valid licence, do not proceed.
Protect yourself online. Avoid sending copies of documents by unsecured chat, do not share full ID/passport in public groups, and be careful with links to unknown sites. Use our Safe Online guidance.
Sign a written contract you understand. Request a Ukrainian/English translation of your contract. You are allowed to take the contract home and get advice before signing. NGOs (e.g., SIMI/OPU) can help review all the terms and conditions described in your contract. 
Do not start work until your contract is signed and you have a copy.
If you face issues at work, do not hesitate to report and seek legal assistance. This can also be provided for free by non-governmental organizations.
Warning: If an employer, recruiter, or agency insists on keeping your passport or ID, this is a sign of possible exploitation or trafficking. You have the right to refuse.4. Finding jobs: official and popular portals
Volná místa (Úřad práce): official, constantly updated vacancies; filter by region, sector, full/part‑time; create email alerts; submit applications directly. EURES portal: EU‑wide vacancies and online job days. Atmoskop.cz: check company ratings and employee reviews to understand workplace conditions. Jooble (UA‑friendly): job search aggregator with Ukrainian‑language interface/options. Other large Czech portals: Jobs.cz, Prace.cz, Práce za rohem.
Beware of fees: licensed agencies and employers must not charge workers for finding a job.
5. Vocational training & skills development (rekvalifikace)
Requalification (rekvalifikace) is vocational training supported by the Labour Office. It helps you gain new skills, change your profession, or improve your chances on the labour market. Most courses are free for registered jobseekers, and support may be available even if you are already employed.
The Labour Office can support you with requalification if: you are registered as a jobseeker, or you are employed but need additional training to stay in work or improve your position.
What kinds of requalification are available?
You can choose from many types of courses. The Labour Office decides whether a course can be supported based on your situation, skills, and the needs of the labour market. You can browse all available requalification courses online.
Professional courses — for example, accounting, logistics, IT basics, administration, caregiving, warehouse work. Trade licence preparation (živnost) — courses required to open a business in a regulated field. Language training — Czech language courses for employment.
Digital skills training — computer skills, specialised software.