Migration Processes in Central and Eastern Europe - Multiple Choices

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Refugees in Central and Eastern Europe
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OVERVIEW OF THE SITUATION IN SELECTED MEMBER STATES
Country Numbers of asylum seekers The most common country Recognition rates based
who arrived and variation of origin/nationality of asylum seekers on Convention status
between the two years
2003 2004 +/- (%) 2003 2004 2003 2004
% Number % Number
Austria 32,359 24,676 - 23,7 Russian Federation Russian Federation 28,4 2,084 49,8 5,136
Czech
Republic 11,400 5,459 - 47,9 Russian Federation Ukraine 2,2 208 2,9 140
Germany 50,563 35,607 - 29.6 Turkey Turkey 3,3* 3,136 3,3* 2,067
Hungary 2,401 1,600 - 33.4 Afghanistan Georgia 10.3 178 13.4 149
Poland 6,909 8,079 + 16.9 Russian Federation Russian Federation 2,7 219 4,5 305
Slovakia 10,358 11,391 + 9.1 Russian Federation India 2,5 11 1,1 15
Slovenia 1,066 1,173 + 9.7 Turkey Serbia and 18,4** 37 9,5** 39
Montenegro
Source: this table was compiled by A. Szczepaniková based on data from the European Council on Refugees and Exiles Country
Reports http://www.ecre.org/factfile/countryrpt.shtml.
* Including recognition based on the Art. 16a German Constitutional Law.
** Including recognition based on humanitarian status.
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for example, an equitable sharing of the responsibility for
reception throughout the country. Such restrictions should
never be imposed merely as a deterrent measure, or merely
to increase surveillance by the authorities. If such restrictions
are required, they must be proportional to the ends to be
achieved, respect the right of family unity and be applied
without discrimination for a limited period. ICF does not
accept that there are any circumstances in which restrictions
on the freedom to travel of asylum seekers are justifiable.
•• Access to employment and vocational training
Since 2004, an amendment in Austria has given
asylum seekers access to employment three months after
making an application. However, the existing restrictions
make access to employment almost impossible in practice.
Asylum seekers are denied access to educational programmes,
as they cannot be included in placement programmes of
the labour market service.
In the Czech Republic, it is legally possible to
take up employment after a period of one year. In practice,
however, it is almost impossible for asylum seekers to find
employment due to administrative obstacles. About 90
percent of all asylum seekers in private accommodation
have taken up illegal employment, partly because they are
excluded from state social benefits. Asylum seekers do not
have access to vocational training.
In Slovakia, an amendment of the Asylum Act,
effective since 1 February 2005, provides that an asylum seeker
has access to the labour market if s/he has not received a
valid decision in their asylum procedure within one year
from the date s/he applied for asylum. Before February 2005,
asylum seekers had no access at all to the labour market.
In Hungary, asylum seekers are legally allowed
to work after a period of one year. However, according to
official documents, there are no asylum seekers in legal
employment. The procedure for obtaining a work permit is
complicated and takes several weeks.
The possibility of taking up employment is
enshrined in the Slovenian Asylum Act. However, it is
concerning that employment relations permitted to asylum
seekers contain neither a contract nor accident insurance.
In Germany, asylum seekers are subject to a
one-year ban on work. After this has elapsed they have lowpriority
status regarding employment access. That means
that they are only permitted to take up employment if a job
in Germany cannot be filled by a German, an EU citizen or
another employee enjoying preference.
In Poland, asylum seekers currently have no
access to the labour market. However, an amendment on
this matter is currently before parliament. Since asylum
seekers cannot obtain a work permit during their procedure,
they may not take up vocational training either.
Migration Processes in Central and Eastern Europe: Unpacking the Diversity