|
Already 300 Roma people left Bystrany and went to the Great Britain to look for a job
Bystrany (Eastern Slovakia), 9. 1. 2005, 10:50 (CTK)
In between 200 to 300 Roma citizens of the Bystrany settlement that is
near to Spissk Nova Ves went to the Great Britain. "Only men were leaving
in past, whereas today these are the whole families, said mayor of the
district Frantiek Ziga to the CTK. Whole families with children are going
to visit those who managed to get a footing in Britain. Those less
successful are coming back, he added.
According to newest Britain statistic that was announced already last
November, 8395 Slovakian citizens have got a job in Britain since 1st of
May till the end of September. Britain, as one of the few European Union
countries, opened its employment market for employees from the new Unions
member states after the enlargement. However, Britain replenished this
possibility with a condition of not offering social security benefits to
them.
Already several migration waves were recorded in Bystrany after Slovakian
entrance to the EU. Almost whole upper end of the settlement, where
recently lived about 1700 people, is empty. Windows and doors of houses
are boarded up with base and iron plates. House owners sold their
furnishing to their neighbors.
"Sometimes they show up at home and leave again. While Christmas, one
young man came to visit his relatives. He very preached up the fact that
he has got a job and flat there. Therefore, he can live the same life like
anyone else. Actually, he was looking forward to come back to London again,
said iga.
Since Britain offers working opportunities to incomers from the new EU
member states, however, no social security benefits; it is necessary to
know English, as many people who already have been there agree. It is
impossible without English, said Petr Klobouk who is chief of an agency
mediating working opportunities for Czechs and Slovaks in London, to the
TK. According to his opinion, English opens the door to better working
opportunities and salaries.
Mayor of Bystrany also recognized that especially Roma people who did not
have a problem to get a job at home are leaving for Britain. Only more
problematic people are staying in the settlement, he submitted. Local
schoolmaster Jn Bajerk has also ensured information about a mass
leaving of Roma from Bystrany. Only last year parents officially signed
off about 40 children. It has been another five of them since the
beginning of this year. Many pupils simply do not come to school one day.
Schools staff gets to know about their departure from their classmates.
Mass leaving of "ragged Slovakian Roma" was one of the themes discussed by
the British tabloid press. "Mr. Slovak", was even a fictive hero of an
extensive assay of an article. This article talked about the way these
immigrants would allegedly bleed British social security benefit system.
The British press left this theme when the wave of thousands Roma people
from Eastern Slovakia did not wake up after the EU enlargement.
CTK
translated by Petra Zajdova (ROMEA) |
