Qualified Foreign Workers Selection Qualified Foreign Workers Selection

Pilot ProjectPilot Project

VICE-MINISTER CESTMIR SAJDA VICE-MINISTER CESTMIR SAJDA MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND SOCIAL AFFAIRSMINISTRY OF LABOUR AND SOCIAL AFFAIRSCZECH REPUBLICCZECH REPUBLIC

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SELECTION OF QUALIFIED FOREIGN WORKERSSELECTION OF QUALIFIED FOREIGN WORKERS

MLSA Pilot in implementation since July ’03MLSA Pilot in implementation since July ’03

The project representsThe project represents:: new concept of active new concept of active management of migrationmanagement of migration

open approach open approach to immigration policyto immigration policy

first step towards formulation of the first step towards formulation of the future future immigration policyimmigration policy of the country of the country

Detailed information at Detailed information at www.immigrationcz.org

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SELECTION OF QUALIFIED FOREIGN WORKERSSELECTION OF QUALIFIED FOREIGN WORKERS

Project RProject Rationale:ationale:

By 2030, Czech labourBy 2030, Czech labour market will lack 4market will lack 42020,000 ,000 workers. Deficit already felt in some regions and workers. Deficit already felt in some regions and professions today.professions today.

LLow total fertility (only 1.19 in 2004)ow total fertility (only 1.19 in 2004)

PProlongation of life expectancy (72.6 for men and 79 rolongation of life expectancy (72.6 for men and 79 for women in 2005)for women in 2005)

This project is just one element of the solutions needed to address Czech labour market issues.

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SELECTION OF QUALIFIED FOREIGN WORKERSSELECTION OF QUALIFIED FOREIGN WORKERS

Project ObjectiveProject Objectivess::

To bring qualified foreign experts with potential to To bring qualified foreign experts with potential to contribute contribute to to thethe Czech eCzech economy conomy to integrate to integrate permanently in our society along with their permanently in our society along with their families. families.

To help Czech employers find qualified workers for To help Czech employers find qualified workers for those long-term unfilled positions on the Czech those long-term unfilled positions on the Czech labour market that attract neither Czech nor EU labour market that attract neither Czech nor EU workersworkers..

To identify legal bottlenecks that represent To identify legal bottlenecks that represent obsobstatacles to permanent immigrationcles to permanent immigration..

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SELECTION OF QUALIFIED FOREIGN WORKERSSELECTION OF QUALIFIED FOREIGN WORKERS

Benefits for Project Participants: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 permit after 2.5 years (current legal provisions allow after 5 years)after 5 years)

3030--days protection period to find a new days protection period to find a new job job in case of in case of job loss caused by reasons other than own fault. job loss caused by reasons other than own fault.

The Czech Republic does not ensure employment, visa, accommodation or offer any other service.

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SELECTION OF QUALIFIED FOREIGN WORKERSSELECTION OF QUALIFIED FOREIGN WORKERS

Target countries:Target countries: Bulgaria, Belarus, Croatia, Kazakhstan, MoldovaBulgaria, Belarus, Croatia, Kazakhstan, Moldova Canada, Serbia and Montenegro (July 1, 2005) Canada, Serbia and Montenegro (July 1, 2005) Ukraine (January 1, 2006)Ukraine (January 1, 2006)

Eligible groups – foreign graduates of:Eligible groups – foreign graduates of: Czech secondary schoolsCzech secondary schools regardless of their country of regardless of their country of

origin who finished their studies in 2000 or laterorigin who finished their studies in 2000 or later.. Czech universitiesCzech universities regardless their country regardless their country of origin who of origin who

finished their studies in 1995 or later.finished their studies in 1995 or later.

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SELECTION OF QUALIFIED FOREIGN WORKERSSELECTION OF QUALIFIED FOREIGN WORKERS

Admission to Admission to PPreferential referential PProcedure Depends on: rocedure Depends on: Secondary vocational oSecondary vocational orr higher education higher education

Sufficient points in the selection procedure Sufficient points in the selection procedure (Minimum 25 out of 66)(Minimum 25 out of 66)

Work permit Work permit (issued depending on labour market situation)(issued depending on labour market situation)

Visa issued for more than 90 days for the purpose of Visa issued for more than 90 days for the purpose of employment or longemployment or long--term residence permitterm residence permit

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SELECTION OF QUALIFIED FOREIGN WORKERSSELECTION OF QUALIFIED FOREIGN WORKERS

Selection CSelection Criteriariteria::

• Work experienceWork experience

• Achieved educationAchieved education

• AgeAge

• Language skillsLanguage skills

• Evaluation of familyEvaluation of family

• Employment relationship in the Czech RepublicEmployment relationship in the Czech Republic

• Previous experience living in Czech RepublicPrevious experience living in Czech Republic

The points evaluation is a completely objective and The points evaluation is a completely objective and transparent system, without any possibility of exercising transparent system, without any possibility of exercising subjective influence by the organizers of the project.subjective influence by the organizers of the project.

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PublicPublic Information Information CCampaignampaign:: EExtensive xtensive information campaign implemented in information campaign implemented in

close co-operation with International Organization close co-operation with International Organization for Migrationfor Migration

The Czech Republic campaign focuses onThe Czech Republic campaign focuses on:: the Czech communitythe Czech community potential applicants potential applicants

The project has gained broad publicity with minimum The project has gained broad publicity with minimum negative reactionsnegative reactions

The target countries campaign focuses on:The target countries campaign focuses on: potential applicantspotential applicants

SELECTION OF QUALIFIED FOREIGN WORKERSSELECTION OF QUALIFIED FOREIGN WORKERS

The most effective tools are IOM The most effective tools are IOM hhotlines, leaflets, project otlines, leaflets, project website and active work with the media.website and active work with the media.

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www.immigrationcz.orgwww.immigrationcz.org

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www.praceprocizince.czwww.praceprocizince.cz

Link between MLSA Online Pilot and longLink between MLSA Online Pilot and long--term term unfilledunfilled positions on the Czech labour market positions on the Czech labour market and demand for workand demand for work

Application ObjectiveApplication Objectivess::

To enable employers who cannot find qualified workers To enable employers who cannot find qualified workers in the Czech Republic and the EU to find employees in the Czech Republic and the EU to find employees abroadabroad

Make it easier for foreign workers interested in the pilot Make it easier for foreign workers interested in the pilot project to find employment in the Czech Republic. project to find employment in the Czech Republic.

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SELECTION OF QUALIFIED FOREIGN WORKERSSELECTION OF QUALIFIED FOREIGN WORKERS

Lessons Lessons LLearearnenedd: : PositivePositive• restricting the number of countries selected for testing in restricting the number of countries selected for testing in the first phase was a right decisionthe first phase was a right decision

• criteria are quite feasiblecriteria are quite feasible

• substantial experience has been acquired in the sphere substantial experience has been acquired in the sphere of administration, methodologof administration, methodologyy, communication with , communication with partners and participants, and information flows partners and participants, and information flows

• experience enabled enlargement of the project to Ukraine experience enabled enlargement of the project to Ukraine and introduction of the on-line application systemand introduction of the on-line application system

• large number of foreigners registered online proveslarge number of foreigners registered online proves interest in working in the Czech Republicinterest in working in the Czech Republic

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SELECTION OF QUALIFIED FOREIGN WORKERSSELECTION OF QUALIFIED FOREIGN WORKERS

Lessons Lessons LLearearnenedd: : NegativeNegative• lloow number of participants (total 373)w number of participants (total 373)

• main obstacle:main obstacle: restriction restriction of access of foreigners of access of foreigners on on the Czech labour market – especially the labourthe Czech labour market – especially the labour market market testtest

• lowlow interest among Czech employers interest among Czech employers in in registerregisteringing vacancies for migrants from third vacancies for migrants from third countriescountries

• absence of a absence of a list of list of deficiendeficientt professions professions on the Czech on the Czech labour marketlabour market

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SELECTION OF QUALIFIED FOREIGN WORKERSSELECTION OF QUALIFIED FOREIGN WORKERS

Next StepsNext Steps• to facilitate ato facilitate accessccess for highly skilled migrants to link their for highly skilled migrants to link their exercised professionexercised professionss to their qualification to their qualificationss

• to to differentiate between various categories differentiate between various categories ofof project project participants more distinctively participants more distinctively

• to work out lists of deficiento work out lists of deficientt professions professions

• to strengthen integration elements – e.g. to strengthen integration elements – e.g. Czech language Czech language coursescourses

• further further increase increase of the number of target countriesof the number of target countries

FormulatiFormulation of on of a new immigration policy is a long-distance a new immigration policy is a long-distance race showing that each country has to find its own path race showing that each country has to find its own path

even if methods employed are very similar.even if methods employed are very similar.

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FIGURESFIGURES

- in December 2005 total of 280 111 foreigners in the Czech Republic, out of which 192 968 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: 55 000 (December 2005) details at portal.mpsv.cz -vacancies on website www.praceprocizince.cz : 80

advertisements for approx.300 positions (as of October 2005)

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COMPARATIVE CHARTCOMPARATIVE CHART

State Total Number of Foreign Workers (number of work permits issued)

Number of Program Participants

Moldova 2641 23

Bulgaria 1609 172

Belorussia 847 68

Serbia and Monte Negro

331 7

Kazakhstan 203 34

* There is no proportionality indicated between total number of foreigners from source country and number of program participants.

MINISTRY OF LABOR AND SOCIAL AFFAIRSMINISTRY OF LABOR AND SOCIAL AFFAIRSCZECH REPUBLICCZECH REPUBLIC

Thank you for your attention!Thank you for your attention!

For Information, Contact:For Information, Contact:Helena SpirkoHelena Spirkova, Projectva, Project Co-ordinator Co-ordinator

helena.spirkovahelena.spirkova@mpsv.czwww.immigrationcz.org