Migration Processes in Central and Eastern Europe - Multiple Choices

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——————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Refugees in Central and Eastern Europe ——————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— like for refugees and they are usually right. On the other hand, NGOs too often face a lack of self-reflection of their own work, which is not always qualified; this does not help to improve the position and the image of NGOs. Ideally, from my point of view, the state should, in cooperation with NGOs, academic institutions, and other bodies, define the goals of integration policy, the measures for their fulfilment, and create corresponding conditions, rules, and control mechanisms. The role of NGOs is clear: implementing, consulting, and proposing new measures according to their practice and so on. I would like to make one more point which I consider very important: NGOs should not be centralised and cover a whole spectrum of activities, but rather be specialised, function more or less regionally, and network in order to keep their virtually only, but fundamental, advantage over the state: flexibility, proximity to the life of their clients, and deep knowledge of the environment. A.S.: With regard to integration policies towards migrants and recognised refugees in the Czech Republic, do you see some kind of development over the last few years, and if yes, in what direction? V.G.: I have already mentioned the improved Concept of Integration of Foreigners, which is more concrete; for example it leaves out vague or even dangerous proclamations of “supporting the foreigners’ communities” and so on. Certain positive development can be observed in communication between the state authorities and NGOs, the state's endowment policy as well as in other areas. The persisting problems are: the position of recognised refugees on the labour market, their access to rental housing, the fact that they often live in poverty, and the weak socioeconomic status of long-term residing foreigners (third country nationals), which makes them look for illegal or parallel structures rather than use legal and transparent ways. This diminishes their potential desire to integrate, especially when they decide to stay for a longer time or forever. A.S.: Let me ask a very practical question now, can you describe how a successfully integrated migrant might look in the Czech context? Taking into account the huge diversity of migrants, is it at all possible to come up with a set of features which would indicate successful integration? V.G.: Undoubtedly yes, even though there can be, and are, ongoing debates about what measure of each feature is sufficient. But as we speak about very idiosyncratic issues, it is necessary to simplify. My limited and very general definition would be that a successfully integrated person understands and accepts principles of the local system of values, and rules; stands on his or her own feet as an independent, original individual and is accepted as such by the receiving community (or the majority, if you want). The last point I want to stress: if we consider integration as a two-way process, then we must not forget about it. There are many examples (e.g. from the State Integration Programme) when it had not been considered whether the local community had at least some potential to receive a refugee as a fellow-citizen. This depends on many factors such as a functioning community life, job opportunities, and others. A.S.: Many of programs and activities of CIC are focused on supporting migrants' integration into the Czech labour market, what are the key issues you deal with in this field? What are the most significant problems? V.G.: To be brief, there are seven most significant problems. On the part of migrants, these are 1) language barriers, 2) troubles with recognising their qualification and 3) often, a loss of work habits (especially after undergoing the asylum procedure). On the other side it is: 4) discrimination, 5) lack of knowledge of foreigners' rights and duties, 6) administrative objections, and last, but not least, 7) rampant habit of the Czech employers to employ foreigners only illegally without any interest to hire them on the basis of a regular contract and to comply with their obligations as employers. But this is just a quickly picked out segment of various kinds of problems... A.S.: And finally, the mission statement of the CIC reads: the key role of the Centre is in working towards easy and mutually rewarding relationships between people from foreign countries, coming from different cultural backgrounds, and people living in the Czech Republic. This and similar statements appear quite often in the language of Czech non-governmental organisations, could you specify what exactly you mean by the mutually rewarding relationship? How, in concrete terms, do you see migrants' contribution for Czech society? V.G.: It may surprise you, but I will not speak about demographic reasons, cultural enrichment and others, but in my opinion somewhat debatable things. I consider migration as a natural phenomenon. I mean, it is not only good or bad, it is simply natural and we must deal with it somehow. And in such terms, it is also a challenge for us: migrants' contributions will depend on the conditions we provide for them. The question is whether we know what we want and what we need. Right now, it looks like we prefer migrants working in dirty, semi-legal or illegal conditions and structures (mostly ethnically based) rather than migrants working and 63 Migration Processes in Central and Eastern Europe: Unpacking the Diversity
——————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Construction of Borders and Practices of Labour Migration ——————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— living legally with at least a basic level of respect to our norms and values and using their skills, qualifications, human qualities, and experiences to the advantage of our society as a whole. Concerning migrants it looks simple – they just look for better life, for a good job, housing, a sense of security and equality for themselves and their children. The question is whether we are able to secure it. We, in the CIC, try to contribute to such a system, which, on the one hand, clearly and reasonably formulates its rules and conditions and, on the other, strictly applies and follows them – no matter whether it deals with a citizen, or an immigrant. Vladislav Günter Vladislav Günter is a social worker in the Centre for Integration of Foreigners. He can be contacted at vladislav.gunter@cicpraha.org. 64 Centre for Integration of Foreigners (CIC) is based in Prague; it offers a variety of services to recognised refugees and to foreigners with long-term and permanent residency living in the Czech Republic. CIC focuses primarily on social counselling, helping migrants in interaction with municipal authorities, educational and health facilities, assisting with housing and job placement and with securing of specialised services; see more at http://www.cicpraha.org/index_en.html Migration Processes in Central and Eastern Europe: Unpacking the Diversity
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Migration Processes in Central and
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Editors Alice Szczepaniková, Marek
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Contents ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 06 INTROD
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