Socio-economic Integration

The socioeconomic integration receives more attention in the literature than the other dimensions of integration (Bernard and Mikesova 2014). The focus of socio-economic integration is to be independent financially and being able to survive in the new country without the help of the government in form of social benefits. The socio-economic integration also focuses on the difference between the job position and education. Successfully integrated immigrant can compete at the local labour market and receive a job position that corresponds with his educational level.

In this section, the author has asked the respondents about their employment, housing quality, income level, education, and the language ability.

According to MIPEX data (2015), a relatively low number of immigrants (18,5 percent) are unemployed, but at the same few immigrants have access to training and social benefits and get more qualified jobs. Based on the data of Ministry of Interior (2015), 41 847 Ukrainians have access to the Czech labour market and 22 786 Ukrainians have a business license in the Czech Republic. The non-EU citizens have even harder procedures to have their diplomas and experience recognized and use them to find a qualified job. Besides complicated procedures, a construction worker with Doctoral degree in Physics from Lviv, stated another barrier to the get the diploma recognized, “I didn't have time to think about education, recognition of diploma because all the time I needed money. Now I am 54 years old and its too late” (Interviewee E).

Relatively few immigrants receive some kind of social benefits such as child or housing support (Drbohlav et al 2009). Most receivers of benefits come from Slovakia, because 13.9 percent of Slovaks in the Czech Republic receive some form of social benefits and they make up 52.4 percent of all foreigners receiving social benefits (Drbohlav et al 2009). The Ukrainians the author has interviewed generally felt offended by the question on social benefits because they felt it is

‧

國

立 政 治 大 學

‧

N a tio na

l C h engchi U ni ve rs it y

shameful to received social benefits, when they are able to earn for the living. Interviewee G, a construction leader, who lives in the Czech Republic for 20 years, says, “Ukrainians are not used to take social benefits, we feel it is embarrassing to get benefits when we are able to work.”

Interviewee O, an owner of a small company in the construction sector, adds, “The social benefit system is very liberal in the Czech Republic. People spend more time to get money from the state rather than start thinking how to earn those money. It goes as far as a couple with three children is not getting married because a single mother would get more social benefits for the kids.”

Drbohlav et al. (2009) points out that the most significant problem is health insurance, because not all foreigners residing in the Czech Republic are qualified for the public health insurance, some need to rely on private insurance companies, whose coverage is not as complete as national health insurance program. It is also important to add that illegal workers do not have any insurance and Interviewee G admitted, “Illegal immigrants did not have health insurance, so it happened that they run away from the hospital after they have received care because they had no money to pay.” This caused worse treatment of Ukrainian workers by hospital staff. Interviewee P, who also works in construction, added, “Czech hospitals discriminate against people with a different insurance than Czech National Health Insurance because private insurance may not cover all medical expenses. I have encountered the nurses and doctors, who refused to treat a Ukrainian worker, because he did not have Czech insurance.”On the other hand, another respondent said that from her experience, immigrants with Czech National Health Insurance, who speak Czech well, are treated nicely (Interviewee N).

High education immigrants are 2.5 times more likely to have a job below their education

‧

國

立 政 治 大 學

‧

N a tio na

l C h engchi U ni ve rs it y

looking for an immediate financial return and are not willing to invest in human capital, such as language learning or obtaining a degree, and not because they are discriminated by local employers.

Interviewee N confirmed this, “When people come here, they do not expect they would stay here for a longer period of time, so it does not make sense to spend money on education and courses in the Czech Republic. They are trying to make money and go back to Ukraine as soon as possible.”

Kogan (2011) also concludes in his study that social networks and cultural adaptation also plays a role in receiving higher skilled employment. It is questionable, whether immigrants have those social contacts and connections to find a better employment. Economic immigrants might not have financial resources to invest in receiving additional education, thus staying in low skilled jobs to have their bills paid. As for the family reunification, the Czech Republic was most criticized on the condition that non-EU sponsors cannot be reunited if their receive certain benefits such as unemployment support, child or social benefits, and also on the 250 percent rise of application fees in 4 years since 2010 to 2014, which will make it harder for vulnerable groups to reunite (MIPEX 2015).

Based on the interviews, it seems that Ukrainian men indeed are employed in construction sector. Interviewee B, a construction worker, explained that, “Most Ukrainians work in construction because in other sectors more documents are needed and there is not an interest to employ foreigners”. His wife Interviewee D, who works as a cleaning lady, adds, “Our people do not have a choice when looking for employment. We take any job available.”Ukrainian women the author has interviewed are mostly working in cleaning services, with some exceptions of women, who have received professional training in the Czech Republic. The respondents admit that their first job was very hard. Interviewee D says,

My first job was very hard, I worked as a cleaning lady in a hospital and worked 16 hours a day.

‧

國

立 政 治 大 學

‧

N a tio na

l C h engchi U ni ve rs it y

there for 2 years and had to leave due to health problems. One day, my colleague I were sent to work in the part of the hospital with infectious disease. We didn’t know and no one told us that we could not go inside that area without protective clothes. We weren’t given a mask or protective gloves. I am not sure it is because we did not understand at first or they did not care about us because we were foreigners. Soon after, I started to cough pretty badly and my husband got scared and told me to leave that job.

Interviewee H was a kindergarten teacher in Ukraine, but coming to the Czech Republic also worked in a hospital as a cleaning lady, ”My first job in the Czech Republic was cleaning at the hospital. It was very hard. Commuting was exhausting. I could not have thought that I could clean the places full of blood. It was hard for me to do it at first, but people get used to everything”. After staying in the Czech Republic for more than 10 years, Interviewee D and Interviewee H still work as cleaning ladies, but in private homes.

Some female respondents got a different kind of job. Interviewee R got a certificate and works as a manicurist. She explains why many Ukrainian women choose not to study: “Our Ukrainian women do not want to study. They are used to low skilled jobs. They are afraid to speak Czech, afraid of responsibility. Many Ukrainian women just feel cleaning is easier.” Interviewee D adds that there is help available, “I am currently officially unemployed. Another day, I had a meeting in the Employment office. I was asked why I underestimate myself. Why I do not bring diploma from Ukraine, there are free courses available as well for the unemployed. There is help, immigrants just need to overcome fear and start trying.” Interviewee T, a kindergarten teacher, has

‧

國

立 政 治 大 學

‧

N a tio na

l C h engchi U ni ve rs it y

“Czechs are not willing to work more than 8 hours a day. Ukrainians came to earn money, they are giving all their strength and are willing to work even 15 hours a day.” Interviewee Q has a small company in construction sector and confirms, “From my 20 year experience in construction sector, Ukrainians are not discriminated in pay. They receive as much for their work as Czechs do.” He also adds, “Ukrainians got used to work in construction sector, they are happy for their jobs and they are not willing to change anything.”

All respondents have admitted that knowing Czech language is very important to integrate into society and find employment. Having a legal status is also essential to find a better paid employment and working conditions. Housing is still a painful question for several respondents, because some of them are currently paying off mortgage.