Many foreigners go to Czechia precisely in search of work
As reported by Radio Prague, the largest group of foreigners in Czechia are Ukrainians – 23%. In second place are Slovaks – 22%, and in third place are Vietnamese – 12%. Russians make up 8% of foreigners in Czechia, Germans 5%, and Poles 4%. Primarily, these are economically active migrants.
"Out of half a million, more than 400 thousand foreign nationals were registered with labor offices as employees of various companies or in the register of the Ministry of Industry as entrepreneurs at the end of 2015," comments Daniel Chytil from the Czech Statistical Office.
The Czech Republic currently has a record low unemployment rate, which causes a serious shortage of labor. For example, exporting companies report vacancies for 130 thousand people. Foreigners arriving in Czechia are an additional source of personnel – both skilled and unskilled – for Czech enterprises. However, filling vacant jobs with foreign nationals is hindered by bureaucratic red tape.
"For example, I met with a Vietnamese entrepreneur who spoke of his readiness to bring several hundred workers for his factory, but Czech authorities could not provide them with visas. He was unable to bring enough people to Czechia to start production. The same situation with Ukrainians," says the chairman of the Association of Exporters, Jiří F. Grund.
The attraction of foreign labor to Czechia is carried out through special government programs, but their scope is limited. Czech trade unions oppose simplifying the regulations for granting the right to work, citing the danger of depriving Czech citizens of jobs and warning of a possible deterioration of the security situation in the country. The influx of foreign labor (cheaper, as the unions claim) limits the growth of wages for Czech workers.
The Economic Chamber of Czechia considers this argument unfounded. "I must reject such criticism. Czech employers, as well as members of our chamber and labor office inspectors, strictly ensure that foreigners and Czechs receive the same wages if they perform the same work," emphasizes Ladislav Minčič, director of the department for legislation, law and analytics of the Economic Chamber of Czechia.