The number of non-resident jobseekers as of 31 August 2019 lays at 2,461. Most of them are signed up to reclassification measures, usually following health concerns that prevent them from exercising their last job role. Only 625 are fully registered with ADEM.
This is but a drop in the water when compared to the 200,000 cross-border workers currently employed in Luxembourg. The number of jobseekers is small, but this is likely because many non-residents do not even know they have the right to register with ADEM.
Non-residents - cross-border workers, European citizens, or third country individuals - register with the agency the same way they would register with any other employment agency. They have to fill out forms, provide copies of their qualifications, and schedule a meeting at the agency to complete their registration.
One thing that remains crucial is that they must speak Luxembourgish, French, or German. Non-residents can even register within their own residence agency for compensation. Registering for ADEM services is open to both jobseekers and current employees.
Not at all. With the exception of those in reclassification measures, who hold a special status, non-residents registered with ADEM are compensated by their country of residence. Being registered with Luxembourg’s National Employment Agency gives them access to vacancies in Luxembourg, making registration a decent means to working or returning to work in Luxembourg.
ADEM’s head of service Jean Ries explains: “It is possible to register even if one has never been employed in Luxembourg. This allows new arrivals who wish to work in Luxembourg to look for opportunities.”
Nevertheless, the majority of non-residents registered have already worked in Luxembourg, tend to be more qualified than the average jobseeker, and have good job experience.
As with all employment agencies, those registering must follow certain requirements, like showing up at monthly meetings and actively seeking employment. Therefore, there is little interest in registering if you are not close to Luxembourg.
Non-residents do not risk heavy sanctions if they ignore the requirements, with the only consequence being that their files would be closed. This is different to Luxembourgish residents who must respect the requirements in order to receive unemployment benefits. Ries explained that their country’s employment agency would pay benefits, and that ADEM does not communicate to the individual agencies in the event that a file has been closed.
