IFP: Roma Employment in Slovakia Lags behind Majority for Long Time

Bratislava, August 16 (TASR) - Employment of Roma in Slovakia significantly lags behind the majority population, according to an analysis done by the Finance Ministry's Financial Policy Institute (IFP) based on data published in the latest Atlas on Roma Communities. In the period between 2004-2017, the Roma employment rate made up a mere one third of the employment rate showed by the majority population. In 2017 when the labour market situation posted a positive development, the Roma employment rate increased to almost 21 percent. However, it still significantly lagged behind the majority population. There's a significant gender difference in Roma employment. The female employment rate only amounts to 16 percent, compared to 26-percent male employment. The analysis ascribes this difference to the traditional division of roles in Roma households, with women often being devoted to raising children and doing housework. IFP analysts identified the problem as the result of not only low qualifications and skills, but also poor schooling. "We can say that an environment of poor households with prevailing low educated parents significantly influences the school results of their children," stated IFP's analyst Slavomir Hidas. The analysis also showed relative low support for Roma employment, or them often being participants in ineffective tools. "Despite much higher unemployment, the participation of Roma registered with labour offices in active labour market measures makes up just half of that of the majority population," reads the analysis. For example in 2016, only 8 percent of unemployed Roma took part in active labour market measures. Meanwhile, unemployed Roma are often supported by ineffective public employment tools. As many as 40 percent of unemployed Roma took part in activation works in villages and for self-governing regions last year. "However, this kind of tool provides no relevant skills and doesn't increase the chances of employment on an open labour market, either," warn analysts. The analysis states that only a little progress has been made in the field of Roma integration on the labour market with their employment lagging behind the majority population for a long time. "Therefore, it's necessary to strengthen policies that support Roma integration on the labour market and in education. In this connection, international organisations also recommend Slovakia to improve monitoring and analytic tools in order to increase the effectiveness of these policies," say IFP analysts. ko/mch