- The most numerous group of migrants in the Czech Republic is Slovaks, which is explained by many years of close ties between the two nations. Ukrainians take second place in the list of migrants. Why?
- These are 50 million people located at a relatively short distance from the Czech Republic. Their potential is great, but the socio-economic situation is catastrophic. One of the survival strategies is to send a family member or an entire family abroad to earn money. The common Slavic culture, above all the language, is also a very important factor. Ukrainians are able to communicate with local residents immediately after their arrival. And a few years ago, the Czech legislative system was very liberal toward migrants.
- How do you assess the migration situation in the Czech Republic?
- According to our research, the migration situation in the Czech Republic is very quickly approaching that existing in Western Europe and partly in traditional immigration countries - Canada, Australia. I was surprised by the similarity between Mexican-American migration and Ukrainian-Czech migration.
There is no need to talk about what vacuum Ukrainians have filled in the Czech labor market. These are auxiliary works on construction sites - for men, and textile and food industries - for women. The dirtiest work that does not require qualifications. Paradoxically, this work often does not correspond to their education. Many have secondary vocational education, some have higher education; their intellectual capital is underestimated. But this is how things stand with foreigners in all Western countries; there is nothing special about it.
- What else is special about Ukrainian migrants who chose the Czech Republic?
- Recently, Czech sociologists completed a project on the study of three national minorities in Prague and Central Bohemia - Ukrainians, Vietnamese, and Armenians. It turned out that Ukrainians are unequivocally a transnational group - one foot here, the other there. They circulate and do not set themselves the goal of staying in the Czech Republic. In the world, this is a common type of migration. However, in other Eastern European countries, Ukrainian migrants do not behave as they do in the Czech Republic. If in our country the stay of Ukrainians is most often short or medium in duration, then in Poland it can be called instantaneous. Ukrainians cheaply buy various products and goods there and immediately sell them profitably abroad. And they go to buy again. Sometimes work also turns up. Then they stay in Poland, but not for long. In Hungary, the role of Ukrainian migrants is played by ethnic Hungarians from Romania. As for Slovakia, it is an exception in the sense that it is not attractive to Ukrainians.
There are two classic forms of Ukrainian penetration into the Czech Republic - finding an employer and obtaining a work visa, or entrepreneurial activity based on a certificate giving the right to it. Approximately the same number of Ukrainians pass through these two channels, slightly more with work visas. However, there is also a third channel - illegal immigration, according to estimates, about 40 thousand Ukrainian citizens pass through it. That is, approximately as many as are in the country legally. There is also quasi-legal migration. What does this mean? Staying in the country, in essence, does not contradict the law, but the work performed by the migrant does not correspond to the type of his visa. This situation occurs when a migrant has an entrepreneurial certificate, but in fact he performs the functions of an employed person.
Ukrainian labor is of interest to many Czech organizations and individuals. Of course - it is reliable, cheap, and takes on any work. But where to get it? You can turn to the state for help. But the Czech-Ukrainian employment agreement ended in 2002, and no one adopted a new one. And that agreement was ineffective; the procedure for obtaining a work permit was too cumbersome. Now everything is streamlined. Everything is organized by special client firms or clients acting alone. This is a very simple regime that suits our entrepreneurs. Instead of 30 people, they negotiate with one.
- The Czech Republic feared an influx of Ukrainian migrants in the months before joining the European Union. Did its fears come true?
- In relation to the migration of Ukrainian citizens, there are no obvious changes; the influx occurred only in terms of granting asylum. From May 1, it will not be so easy for residents of Ukraine to enter the Czech Republic to earn money. There is a possibility that they will reorient themselves to the East and travel to Russia. This is already common in Eastern Ukraine.