legal and social conditions for asylum seekers and refugees in ...

SOCIAL CONDITIONS FOR PERSONS UNDER TEMPORARY PROTECTION
Introduction/legal basis
Housing
Kosovo Albanians who arrived under the UNHCR Humanitarian Evacuation Programme have
been given a three-month temporary residence permit, renewable for one year, with the right to
work. Those who arrived spontaneously were given a three-month temporary residence permit,
renewable for six months, with the right to work.
Kosovo Albanians already resident in France with a temporary residence permit (before the
evacuation programme commenced) and who had not applied for asylum, were given an
additional six-month temporary residence permit once the initial permit expired, with the right to
work. If the person in France had already applied for asylum, the asylum seeker was granted a
temporary residence permit for six months, after the expiration of the initial temporary residence
permit, with the right to work.
After a suspension of a few weeks – during which time it was still possible to lodge an application
for asylum – the processing of the asylum application resumed normally. From May and
September 1999, 882 Kosovo Albanians lodged an asylum application.
Most Kosovo Albanians have been accommodated in 157 accommodation centres, of which 77
have been specially opened for this purpose. The remaining 80 centres are part of the existing
accommodation system.
Freedom of residence/movement
There are no restrictions on the freedom of movement whether persons under temporary
protection are accommodated in reception centres or not.
Financial assistance
Work
The financial support provided to Kosovo refugees staying in accommodation centres is laid down
in a circular of 26 August 1999 issued by the Ministry for Employment and Solidarity.
Persons staying in centres which provide collective catering receive a monthly allowance of FRF
600 FF [EUR 91.4] per individual, FRF 855 [EUR 130.3] for a family of two, FRF 990 [EUR 137.2]
for a family of three and up to FRF 1,455 [EUR 221.8] for a family of seven. An amount of FRF
195 [EUR 29.7] is given per additional person.
When no collective catering is provided in the centre, the monthly financial support ranges from
FRF 1,425 [EUR 217.2] for one person to 3,750,00 [EUR 571.6] for a family of seven, with an
amount of FRF 510 [EUR 77.7] per additional person.
Various social allowances are also available according to the family situation.
Refugees from Kosovo under temporary protection were granted permission to work. This right
was maintained also for those who had applied for asylum in France.
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France