Czech psychology Foreign dreams about better opportunities. Employment barriers constructed by human perception towards foreigners and supported by European legislation. - 26/10/2011

A young lady 24 years old, landed in Prague in the autumn of 2009. Alla arrived in the Czech Republic to study in a Master’s program of International Relations & European Studies. At the same time she continued to work as an employee without a normal contract that covered living and educational expenses. After a year of Czech language preparation in the university, she obtained recognition of her Bacelor’s Diploma in Finance and Credit by VSE in Prague, continued on in her the second year of education in the Master’s program – in both English and her native Russian language. Still Alla couldn’t find an appropriate job that fit her qualifications and education. Why was this so? The reason is simple because she is not EU citizen. She is from one of the third world countries. Thousands of emails sent in response to open job positions weren’t successful. The standard employer’s reply? “Unfortunately we have decided on another candidate whose personal profile better suits our requirements“. Therefore, she only had the opportunity to work in whatever lower qualified position was available. Almost two years were lost in receiving some lower salary in order to support herself in life and education. She later married an Italian citizen who helped her apply for an EU Temporary Residence Permit on the basis of marriage. As a member of an EU citizen family she now will be able to apply for work under a normal contract with an employer and will receive an income at an commensurate level with her education. But this new status still doesn’t allow her to fully realize her professional dreams and personal ambitions because she can work only in the private sector and the road to EU government employment is closed until she becomes an EU citizen. The paper work process is so complicated for non EU citizens who don’t have any support from family and government authority to receive a good education and at the same time have a great work experience. In conclusion, three years to receive a Master’s diploma and to change her personal status from single to married. Additionally, three years to receive EU citizenship and only then maybe she can become an employee in an EU government institution. At the age of 29, she finally will reach her goal! The golden time of youth flees so rapidly, and for her as well as many other females the question will arise. When to become a mother? At this point women must make one of the main choices between family and personal ambitions. Another unrealized dream of a well educated Russian seeking employment in the Czech Rebublic. Alexandr studied in VSE in the Master’s program in English. After graduation from the university and receiving a diploma, Alexandr started to search and apply for job positions according to his new qualifications. The strong point of the legislation in the Czech Republic is that graduated students (non EU nationality) from high school or university are able to apply for work permits and work with the same rights as EU citizens. On the other hand, these graduated people do not receive a work contract so easily on the basis of their qualification, because these open positions are first provided for citizens of the CR and the rest are for foreigners. Certainly, any sensible person who wants to build their career and get a well paid job after a few years of searching for one’s dream job can begin to wonder about the future that is ahead for them in this country. No educated person wants to work in a job for which they are over qualified. These immigrants usually decide to move to a totally new country to achieve their dreams for a better life, to help his/her parents or relatives and to achieve personal and professional goals. Nevertheless, after a long preparation period and moving and obtaining all necessary documents for legal entrance in to the new country, they have to establish themselves all over again. The integration of the emigrant to the new environment includes learning the culture of the foreign country and their traditions and celebrations of national holidays – everyone who wants to build their future in a new land needs to do this. But when on the daily basis one encounters boorish attitudes toward foreigners - EU citizens and non, one tires of these attitudes. For example, communication with employees from the service sector can be negative: A seller from a bakery starts to smile and laugh in the case of the wrong pronunciation of the name of the cookies one wishes to buy; A laundress from the laundry makes the customer wait until they have finished ironing a shirt; A teacher degrades the personal dignity of foreign students in the eyes of the native citizen students by ignoring their answer and not paying attention to them, even though the foreign student raises their hand to give the correct answer; A doctor in the hospital doesn’t give correct diagnosis about a sickness of a foreign patient. The result - the illness continues seven months until the patient goes to another country for a doctor visit; A Czech citizens interrupts a foreign interlocutor, just because he/she doesn’t like to listen to the Czech language pronounced with an accent. They say “Nerozumim”, which means “I don’t understand you”. Simply, they don’t want to speak with you; In the event one requires help with directions or any other need, the reply is again, “Nevim”, which means “I don’t know”, Czech parents teach their children that all foreigners living in the country are low educated, and accordingly, don’t allow their children to play with their foreign peers. These are some examples of real life situations. Briefly, in 2010 425,301 foreigners who were living in the Czech Republic received permission to stay which is in conformity with the Czech Statistic database. More then half has been registered in the Czech Labor offices and the rest has received trade licences - altogether, 306,350 individuals. Another essential foreign segment is students. In the years 2009/2010, 56,758 students were studying in the Czech Republic. In other words, foreigners made up 3.96% of the CR population by 30.06.2011 year. All of these people are investing personal, human and intellectual potential towards the growth of the CR. Foreign investors are opening new businesses in the CR or moving their administration offices from other EU member countries. In this way, they are creating new job positions for local citizens, as well as paying necessary taxes. Students are paying for their education in different programs such as professional development courses, Bachelor’s, Master‘s and PhD programs; thereby, also investing in the CR economy from year to year. Also, a huge number of tourists from around the world are visiting the republic. It would seem that the Czech people could find more friendly and satisfactory ways for communicating and living thogether with other nationalities in their land. With all of these positive arguments, nothing seems to change the psychology of Czech citizens in regards to their attitude towards foreigners. Nowadays, in the era of globalization it is difficult to find a country where only one nationality or culture group lives isolated from different groups. Moreover, there is no nation that can develop solely on its own power and potential according to an equal level with the other developed countries. There is no difficulty of free movement or migration of these peoples to various continents. This is the place where everyone would be able to find something better for himself in regards to one’s needs: having a competetive salary, realizing personal potential, establishing a family, learning about other cultures, etc. By using positive communication, an exchange of work experience, culture knowledge and values, people are able with these combined forces are able to reach common targets for small teams as well as for their countries. Can the Czech’s change their psychology towards foreigners or continue to behave in the same way? Regarding this question, everyone should answer for themselves by trusting their own feelings, despite historical and political factors. Speak your mind openly and honestly about what is on your mind….................................................................. Writer Staff Vera Artemyeva

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