GA EAPN Limassol Contributing to ending poverty amongst migrants in Czech Republic Between state and clients using Ministry of Interior CR and NGOs´ materials by Milena Č erná

GA EAPN Limassol Introduction EAPN Czech Republic presents: a survey of migrants/immigrants situation a survey of migrants/immigrants situation trends and basic legislative trends and basic legislative NGOs providing information and support to refugees and migrants in Czech Republic NGOs providing information and support to refugees and migrants in Czech Republic

GA EAPN Limassol Reasons of migration migration voluntary (study, job) and forced (to avoid repression, disasters, war or violence) migration voluntary (study, job) and forced (to avoid repression, disasters, war or violence) migration legal (manpower) and illegal (criminality) migration legal (manpower) and illegal (criminality) now, the most frequent reason of migration is looking for better life conditions; there is a big difference between richness of certain countries, their powerful economics and level of living now, the most frequent reason of migration is looking for better life conditions; there is a big difference between richness of certain countries, their powerful economics and level of living

GA EAPN Limassol Basic legislative Asylum law 1992/2007; Asylum law 1992/2007; Law on stay of foreigners in the territory of Czech Republic 1999/2008; Law on stay of foreigners in the territory of Czech Republic 1999/2008; Government Decree on integration of foreigners, 2003 Government Decree on integration of foreigners, 2003

GA EAPN Limassol Asylum centers in CR Admission centers: 2 Admission centers: 2 Accommodation centers: 4 Accommodation centers: 4 Integration centers: 5 Integration centers: 5 Total capacity Total capacity Vyšní Lhoty, Prague Ruzyn ě airport Capacity630 Zastávka, Haví ř ov, Kostelec nad O.,Stráž pod R. Capacity649 Haví ř ov, Jarom ěř, P ř edlice, Stráž p. R., Zastávka Capacity259

GA EAPN Limassol Children from accommodation center Kostelec in the Castle Garden Častolovice

GA EAPN Limassol Politics of Czech government in the field of foreigner´s migration Changing approach: from the passive „protection“ to active utilization of migration or immigration Changing approach: from the passive „protection“ to active utilization of migration or immigration Co-operation all actors Co-operation all actors The role of NGOs is to clear up the general aversion to foreigners and to help migrants to understand Czech habits and culture The role of NGOs is to clear up the general aversion to foreigners and to help migrants to understand Czech habits and culture

GA EAPN Limassol Asylums Policy in the Czech Republic Czech Republic is considered as a transit and continually target country as well Czech Republic is considered as a transit and continually target country as well In 2009, Ministry of Interior CR registered In 2009, Ministry of Interior CR registered requests of international protection, while 633 new and 625 repeated requests of international protection, while 633 new and 625 repeated The most represented country was Ukraine, Russia, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Turkey and Vietnam The most represented country was Ukraine, Russia, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Turkey and Vietnam Asylum has been given to 7% of requested only Asylum has been given to 7% of requested only

GA EAPN Limassol Czech Republic and EU Persons requesting visa longer than 90 days create potential target group for legal migration Persons requesting visa longer than 90 days create potential target group for legal migration Participation of the Czech Republic on the number of international protection requests in EU states is low Participation of the Czech Republic on the number of international protection requests in EU states is low Czech Republic with its 0,7 % requests among 27 states of EU ranks 18th place Czech Republic with its 0,7 % requests among 27 states of EU ranks 18th place

GA EAPN Limassol Visa over 90 days requests 2008 State Number of requests Satisfied% Russia ,1 Ukraine ,1 Vietnam ,3 Serbia and M. N ,8 Byelorussia ,3 Tchai-wan ,2 Moldavia ,4 Mongolia ,4

GA EAPN Limassol Where migrants are going from the Czech Republic? Data from 2008 StatePolandAustriaSlovakiaGermanyTotal Poland15116 Ukraine1616 Russia99 Vietnam369 Bosnia44 Afghanistan33 Gruzia33 Jordan123 Serbia213

GA EAPN Limassol Labour migration This group of migrants works in Czech Republic sending money to their families at home. They are Vietnamese, Mongolians etc. They have big problems. At home they are indebted because they must pay back for travel costs. If they have no job they have no food no health insurance and are not able to send money home. They can´t accept the repatriation program from CR because they are not able to pay debts when they work at home. So, they live in poverty in CR, work illegally and are misused by mafia. The worst is that they were drawn on to the CR by domestic or strange agencies promising them high incomes. This group of migrants works in Czech Republic sending money to their families at home. They are Vietnamese, Mongolians etc. They have big problems. At home they are indebted because they must pay back for travel costs. If they have no job they have no food no health insurance and are not able to send money home. They can´t accept the repatriation program from CR because they are not able to pay debts when they work at home. So, they live in poverty in CR, work illegally and are misused by mafia. The worst is that they were drawn on to the CR by domestic or strange agencies promising them high incomes. System where mother or father (or both) work in CR and send money home is problematic. It concerns mostly Ukraine and Moldavia. They have children at home in care of grandparents. Obviously, it would be better to support economic development in those countries in order to let children live in entire families. System where mother or father (or both) work in CR and send money home is problematic. It concerns mostly Ukraine and Moldavia. They have children at home in care of grandparents. Obviously, it would be better to support economic development in those countries in order to let children live in entire families.

Economic crisis 2008 reflected at migrants Although CR has not been touched on economic crisis very much there were 6 to 8 thousand migrants released. Although CR has not been touched on economic crisis very much there were 6 to 8 thousand migrants released. Loosing job foreigners lose legality of their stay. Loosing job foreigners lose legality of their stay. At the same time police strengthened actions to reveal people without stay right. At the same time police strengthened actions to reveal people without stay right. GA EAPN Limassol

GA EAPN Limassol Problems with illegal migrations The general problem is that illegal migration is not enough discussed. The general problem is that illegal migration is not enough discussed. People are forced to work for few money. Experiencing poverty they take to criminality, prostitution etc. People are forced to work for few money. Experiencing poverty they take to criminality, prostitution etc. NGOs tried repeatedly to win government to a general amnesty for illegal migrants but stil without any success. NGOs tried repeatedly to win government to a general amnesty for illegal migrants but stil without any success.

GA EAPN Limassol Integration of foreigners in CR is mostly declared Families they want to include themselves collide with unwillingness of public administration, discrimination, problems with foreigners policy. Families they want to include themselves collide with unwillingness of public administration, discrimination, problems with foreigners policy. NGOs they will help them are limited in financial support from the side of the state. Central administration will control and regulate families by themselves. NGOs they will help them are limited in financial support from the side of the state. Central administration will control and regulate families by themselves. Ministry of Interior divides finances even from EU prefering restrictive measures. It doesn´t favour civic initiatives. Ministry of Interior divides finances even from EU prefering restrictive measures. It doesn´t favour civic initiatives.

Problems of migrants´families Even families having job experience poverty. They pay high rents, health insurance and are not able to save money for future. Their children feel to be discriminated and live in poverty. Even families having job experience poverty. They pay high rents, health insurance and are not able to save money for future. Their children feel to be discriminated and live in poverty. To obtain durable permission for stay is difficult and only few foreigners obtain citizenship. This uncertainty reflects in psychic and health problems of foreigners´ families. To obtain durable permission for stay is difficult and only few foreigners obtain citizenship. This uncertainty reflects in psychic and health problems of foreigners´ families. GA EAPN Limassol

GA EAPN Limassol Prejudices „Foreigners take work of our people“ „Foreigners take work of our people“ „I don´t trust to foreigners because they are different“ „I don´t trust to foreigners because they are different“ „We have not enough for our purposes“ „We have not enough for our purposes“ Demographic development shows decreasing of productive population Demographic development shows decreasing of productive population People have not experience with culture and history of other nations People have not experience with culture and history of other nations The absorption capacity of CR is 10 % whereas migrants constitute about 2,5 % of population The absorption capacity of CR is 10 % whereas migrants constitute about 2,5 % of population

GA EAPN Limassol Ministry of Interior tends to substitute NGOs by state administration State administrative suppose NGOs should become its extended hand. State administrative suppose NGOs should become its extended hand. NGOs should play the role predicated by Ministry of Interior and authorities responsible for migration politic. According NGOs migrants need support and advocacy. NGOs should play the role predicated by Ministry of Interior and authorities responsible for migration politic. According NGOs migrants need support and advocacy. The tension between NGOs and state administrative isn´t new but is worsening. The tension between NGOs and state administrative isn´t new but is worsening.

GA EAPN Limassol EAPN CR formulates clear opinion to the state policy which might act in favour of migrants they come to CR seeking work and security for their families formulates clear opinion to the state policy which might act in favour of migrants they come to CR seeking work and security for their families makes poverty of migrants visible to enhance solidarity and tolerance at the majority makes poverty of migrants visible to enhance solidarity and tolerance at the majority let NGOs do their best to facilitate relationship between state administrative and migrants let NGOs do their best to facilitate relationship between state administrative and migrants

GA EAPN Limassol Milena Č erná, president EAPN Czech Republic