Publication: Czech Republic : Improving Employment Chances of the Roma
Date
2008-10-17
ISSN
Published
2008-10-17
Author(s)
World Bank
Abstract
Roma in marginalized localities in the
Czech Republic have not benefited from the recent improving
employment opportunities in the Czech labor market.
Employment among Roma is low and labor market participation
limited, often driven by lacking labor market opportunities.
The labor market status among the Roma is strongly driven by
educational attainment and skills, and the vast majority of
Roma in marginalized communities suffer from low attainment
and lacking functional literacy and numeracy skills. As a
result a majority rely on traditionally generous social
welfare benefits to make ends meet. In an effort to reduce
this welfare trap the Czech Government has introduced
measures to reduce benefits and tighten conditions for
long-term unemployed who are inactive. However, with very
low demand for low or unskilled labor and widespread
indebtedness of Roma which acts as a binding barrier to
choosing formal employment, this tightening of
beneficiaries' incentives alone will not suffice in
enhancing their employment chances. It requires effective
interventions by the employment services; yet in its current
set-up the Czech labor office appears not well placed to
provide effective support to long-term unemployed and
disadvantaged job-seekers such as Roma. A new approach to
improving job chances for socially excluded youth and adults
is necessary, involving a new way of engagement through the
labor office and contracted third sector service providers
and with integrated activation services addressing multiple
barriers to employment such as skills deficits, lack of
child care, indebtedness and others. However, given the
large skills gap of Roma and the receding demand for
elementary skills in the labor market, the key long-term
strategy to prevent Roma joblessness has to focus on
improving educational outcomes for Roma.
Citation
“World Bank. 2008. Czech Republic : Improving Employment Chances of the Roma. © Washington, DC. http://openknowledge.worldbank.org/handle/10986/18915 License: CC BY 3.0 IGO.”