Prague conference seeks to raise debate over integration of immigrants

A conference in Prague has been told that the Czech Republic has to find the right framework to integrate immigrants after experiencing a rocketing rise in foreign workers. The number of immigrants into the Czech Republic has climbed 13-fold in the last 20 years, conference participants were told on Saturday. Immigrants now account for around 4.0 percent of the population and around 6.0 percent of the workforce, according to director of the Czech office of the International Organisation for Migration, Lucie Sládková.

This was a lot higher than in neighbouring countries such as Slovakia, Poland and Hungary although still lower than levels in some EU countries. Sládková said the country should learn from those countries in selecting the right approach for integrating foreigners.

The conference was jointly staged by Charles University, the Ministry of Interior and the company Global Analysis and Consulting, with the aim of stirring a debate about the significance of immigrants and their treatment.

Author: Chris Johnstone