Authorities reject Vietnamese plea to be allowed remain without jobs and support one another
The Czech authorities recently launched a scheme to send home workers from non-EU states who lose their jobs. But members of the country’s sizable Vietnamese community say that measure is too heavy-handed. Vietnamese leaders told Interior Ministry officials this week they could support one another until the job situation improves again. However, the ministry has rejected these proposals. The head of the ministry’s asylum and migration department, Tomáš Haišman, explains why.
“I’m very sceptical about this, let’s say, very well-meant idea because nobody knows how long the situation will last. That’s why I’m not sure that the ability of perhaps some wealthy Vietnamese inhabitants in the Czech Republic to take care of those who lose their jobs, which means not only their salaries but also housing and other social benefits of their employment in the Czech Republic.”
Was Monday’s event a part of some broader scheme of meeting representatives of the various communities whose members work in the Czech Republic? Do you like to talk to these people directly?
“Look, we have a limited number of staff, and we therefore work in the regions through Czech NGOs that know the situation on the ground. But we will have several similar meetings because we have to talk to those who represent these communities in the regions. This is our role.”
“Well, success is a relative word. I have to say that I’m happy that more than 250 persons left the Czech Republic because of dealing with problems in their individual problems here. From this point of view, it’s relatively successful. Our message must be that we are prepared to help anybody who would like to cooperate on solving their individual problems. On the other hand, I think that the range of the problem is much greater, and I will be more satisfied when we are able to help a rather higher number of people than those 250.”
The programme of voluntary returns was originally designed for some 2,000 foreigners but according to the data released by your ministry, some 12,000 foreign workers might lose work by the end of March. Are you planning to extend the programme?
“Generally speaking, yes. This programme focuses on very particular situation of people who came in the past to the Czech Republic, and we will work together with other ministries on possible prolonging of the project, or perhaps on extending its scope.”
