Prague, Dec 8 (CTK) – A new fund for asylum seekers will start working in the Czech Republic soon, under a memorandum that Chamber of Commerce President Vladimir Dlouhy and Association for Integration and Migration (SIMI) director Magda Faltova signed yesterday.
Firms are to contribute to the fund that will help finance the education of the refugees´ children, Czech language courses and the retraining courses for adults.
Dlouhy submitted a proposal for the fund´s establishment three months ago and the Chamber of Commerce was polling its members whether they would like this idea.
A total of 738 firms responded in the poll and two-fifths of them were willing to admit asylum seekers, while 26 percent would provide finances for them as well.
The poll indicates that about 2000 jobs could be offered to them, Dlouhy said.
Though the Czech Republic does not face an influx of refugees, it should be prepared for their arrival, he added.
However, he stressed that the Chamber would not support “uncontrolled migration” and would not like to “invite waves of asylum seekers.”
The SIMI will administer the fund. It will sign a contract with each donor, including the purpose on which the money will be spent. The association will inform the Chamber of Commerce about the results monthly.
The association also wants to keep working with employers to find out which professions they need, and thus enable asylum seekers to succeed on the labour market in the best possible way.
This year, 1245 people, including 212 children, sought asylum in the Czech Republic by the end then of October. Most of the asylum seekers came from Ukraine (573), followed by Cubans (120) and Syrians (111).
The Czech authorities issued 1118 decisions on asylum this year, granting asylum in 52 cases and temporary protection in 344 cases.
Last year, the Czech Republic registered 1156 applications for asylum and decided on 1050 cases. Asylum was given to 82 people and temporary protection to 294.
Faltova said not only people with asylum or permanent protection, but also those coming from eastern Ukraine should be entitled to help. They often do not seek asylum in the Czech Republic, but “momentary regime.” Then they have a similar status as those with temporary protection.
hol/dr/pv
