Qualified Foreign Workers Selection Pilot Project VICE-MINISTER CESTMIR SAJDA MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND SOCIAL AFFAIRS CZECH REPUBLIC

2 SELECTION OF QUALIFIED FOREIGN WORKERS MLSA Pilot in implementation since July ’03 The project represents: The project represents: new concept of active management of migration new concept of active management of migration open approach to immigration policy open approach to immigration policy first step towards formulation of the future immigration policy of the country first step towards formulation of the future immigration policy of the country Detailed information at Detailed information at

3 SELECTION OF QUALIFIED FOREIGN WORKERS Project Rationale: By 2030, Czech labour market will lack 420,000 workers. Deficit already felt in some regions and professions today. By 2030, Czech labour market will lack 420,000 workers. Deficit already felt in some regions and professions today. Low total fertility (only 1.19 in 2004) Low total fertility (only 1.19 in 2004) Prolongation of life expectancy (72.6 for men and 79 for women in 2005) Prolongation of life expectancy (72.6 for men and 79 for women in 2005) This project is just one element of the solutions needed to address Czech labour market issues.

4 SELECTION OF QUALIFIED FOREIGN WORKERS Project Objectives: To bring qualified foreign experts with potential to contribute to the Czech economy to integrate permanently in our society along with their families. To bring qualified foreign experts with potential to contribute to the Czech economy to integrate permanently in our society along with their families. To help Czech employers find qualified workers for those long-term unfilled positions on the Czech labour market that attract neither Czech nor EU workers. To help Czech employers find qualified workers for those long-term unfilled positions on the Czech labour market that attract neither Czech nor EU workers. To identify legal bottlenecks that represent obstacles to permanent immigration. To identify legal bottlenecks that represent obstacles to permanent immigration.

5 SELECTION OF QUALIFIED FOREIGN WORKERS Benefits for Project Participants: Opportunity to apply for permanent residence Opportunity to apply for permanent residence permit after 2.5 years (current legal provisions allow after 5 years) 30-days protection period to find a new job in case of job loss caused by reasons other than own fault. 30-days protection period to find a new job in case of job loss caused by reasons other than own fault. The Czech Republic does not ensure employment, visa, accommodation or offer any other service.

6 SELECTION OF QUALIFIED FOREIGN WORKERS Target countries:  Bulgaria, Belarus, Croatia, Kazakhstan, Moldova  Canada, Serbia and Montenegro (July 1, 2005)  Ukraine (January 1, 2006) Eligible groups – foreign graduates of:  Czech secondary schools regardless of their country of origin who finished their studies in 2000 or later.  Czech universities regardless their country of origin who finished their studies in 1995 or later.

7 SELECTION OF QUALIFIED FOREIGN WORKERS Admission to Preferential Procedure Depends on: Secondary vocational or higher education Secondary vocational or higher education Sufficient points in the selection procedure Sufficient points in the selection procedure (Minimum 25 out of 66) Work permit Work permit (issued depending on labour market situation) Visa issued for more than 90 days for the purpose of employment or long-term residence permit Visa issued for more than 90 days for the purpose of employment or long-term residence permit

8 SELECTION OF QUALIFIED FOREIGN WORKERS Selection Criteria: Work experience Work experience Achieved education Achieved education Age Age Language skills Language skills Evaluation of family Evaluation of family Employment relationship in the Czech Republic Employment relationship in the Czech Republic Previous experience living in Czech Republic Previous experience living in Czech Republic The points evaluation is a completely objective and transparent system, without any possibility of exercising subjective influence by the organizers of the project.

9 Public Information Campaign: Extensive information campaign implemented in close co-operation with International Organization for Migration Extensive information campaign implemented in close co-operation with International Organization for Migration The Czech Republic campaign focuses on: The Czech Republic campaign focuses on:  the Czech community  potential applicants The project has gained broad publicity with minimum negative reactions The target countries campaign focuses on: The target countries campaign focuses on:  potential applicants SELECTION OF QUALIFIED FOREIGN WORKERS The most effective tools are IOM hotlines, leaflets, project website and active work with the media.

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11 Link between MLSA Online Pilot and long-term unfilled positions on the Czech labour market and demand for work Application Objectives: To enable employers who cannot find qualified workers in the Czech Republic and the EU to find employees abroad To enable employers who cannot find qualified workers in the Czech Republic and the EU to find employees abroad Make it easier for foreign workers interested in the pilot project to find employment in the Czech Republic. Make it easier for foreign workers interested in the pilot project to find employment in the Czech Republic.

12 SELECTION OF QUALIFIED FOREIGN WORKERS Lessons Learned: Positive restricting the number of countries selected for testing in the first phase was a right decision restricting the number of countries selected for testing in the first phase was a right decision criteria are quite feasible criteria are quite feasible substantial experience has been acquired in the sphere of administration, methodology, communication with partners and participants, and information flows substantial experience has been acquired in the sphere of administration, methodology, communication with partners and participants, and information flows experience enabled enlargement of the project to Ukraine and introduction of the on-line application system experience enabled enlargement of the project to Ukraine and introduction of the on-line application system large number of foreigners registered online proves interest in working in the Czech Republic large number of foreigners registered online proves interest in working in the Czech Republic

13 SELECTION OF QUALIFIED FOREIGN WORKERS Lessons Learned: Negative low number of participants (total 373) low number of participants (total 373) main obstacle: restriction of access of foreigners on the Czech labour market – especially the labour market test main obstacle: restriction of access of foreigners on the Czech labour market – especially the labour market test low interest among Czech employers in registering vacancies for migrants from third low interest among Czech employers in registering vacancies for migrants from thirdcountries absence of a list of deficient professions on the Czech labour market absence of a list of deficient professions on the Czech labour market

14 SELECTION OF QUALIFIED FOREIGN WORKERS Next Steps to facilitate access for highly skilled migrants to link their exercised professions to their qualifications to facilitate access for highly skilled migrants to link their exercised professions to their qualifications to differentiate between various categories of project participants more distinctively to differentiate between various categories of project participants more distinctively to work out lists of deficient professions to work out lists of deficient professions to strengthen integration elements – e.g. Czech language courses to strengthen integration elements – e.g. Czech language courses further increase of the number of target countries further increase of the number of target countries Formulation of a new immigration policy is a long-distance race showing that each country has to find its own path even if methods employed are very similar.

15 FIGURES - in December 2005 total of foreigners in the Czech Republic, out of which third-country nationals, most numerous representation- Ukraine (87 834), Vietnam (36 902), Russia (16 627), Bulgaria (4586), Moldova (4682) - foreigners settled on permanent or long-term basis (i.e.residence for more than 1 year): 1,8 % of population -number of foreign workers: (December 2005) details at portal.mpsv.czportal.mpsv.cz -vacancies on website : 80 advertisements for approx.300 positions (as of October 2005)

16 COMPARATIVE CHART StateTotal Number of Foreign Workers (number of work permits issued) Number of Program Participants Moldova Bulgaria Belorussia84768 Serbia and Monte Negro 3317 Kazakhstan20334 * There is no proportionality indicated between total number of foreigners from source country and number of program participants.

MINISTRY OF LABOR AND SOCIAL AFFAIRS CZECH REPUBLIC Thank you for your attention! For Information, Contact: Helena Spirkova, Project Co-ordinator