Career Path: Barriers and challenges of labour integration of foreigners from outside the EU
Not speaking the language, lack of feedback from employers, insufficient coordination of policies, lack of vision or unclear system of bureaucratic processes. These are only a few of barriers and challenges faced by foreigners, employers or representatives of public administration and non-profit organisations in integration into the labour market. What are their suggestions for improvement?
The new analysis, prepared by non-profit organization Mareena, maps the process of labour integration of foreigners from countries outside the EU, its barriers, challenges and recommendations that could improve the situation. The analysis was prepared by researchers based on interviews with foreigners from third countries, employers, representatives of public administration and non-profit organisations.
Labour integration from the perspective of foreigners
Foreigners from non-EU countries perceived their lack of knowledge of Slovak, prejudices, lack of communication and subjectivity on the part of employers and public institutions as the main obstacles in finding a job in Slovakia. Their main recommendation was to improve and streamline communication by both employers and authorities.
Labour integration from the perspective of representatives of public administration and non-governmental organizations
Representatives of the government and non-governmental organizations emphasized the lack of policy coordination between different institutions and levels of government and mentioned the lack of a vision by the government. According to the respondents, the situation could be improved by centralization and unification of the system. Representatives of public administration and non-profit organizations also propose to extend integration efforts to the local and regional level.
Labour integration from the perspective of employers
Most of the surveyed employers considered long waiting times associated with the bureaucratic process to be the biggest challenge in recruiting and admitting foreigners. The ambiguity of procedures and laws further complicates the situation. Companies recommend reducing waiting times and simplifying the bureaucratic process. Usually, the first recommendation was preferred - companies were willing to follow complex rules and subjectivity if it meant that they could recruit quickly.
The analysis of the Slovak context is part of a broader report on integration policies in Croatia, the Czech Republic, Hungary and Slovakia. It offers a basic overview of the situation in selected countries and is the first step in proposing a set of recommendations and tools aimed at improving foreigners' access to professional development opportunities in those countries.
This project, Career Path, is co-funded by the Erasmus+ Programme of the European Union.
More information
Summary report on the integration of third country nationals into the labor market in Croatia, the Czech Republic, Hungary and Slovakia (in English).
Summary of the analysis of the international situation and the Slovak context (in Slovak).
