The state policy towards Slovaks living abroad should intensify interest in compatriot communities of productive age, including in the area of return policy, according to a draft concept of the state policy for the upcoming five years approved by the Cabinet on Wednesday. The concept stressed the need to "define a brand new part of the state policy towards the new diaspora, identifying specific objectives, tools and links."
The Office for Slovaks Living Abroad as a submitter of the document states that the so-called new Slovak diaspora started to form abroad after 1989 and after Slovakia's joining the EU in 2004. "It is comprised of Slovaks who sought better jobs and better social and economic conditions abroad," said the office. This group differs from the original indigenous minorities and traditional communities in Western Europe and overseas in that it associates people of productive age who prefer communicating through social platforms instead of associating themselves in formal unions.
The Office points to the economic potential of the above compatriot community. "According to the World Bank's data, the money that these Slovaks send from abroad to their families make up some 2 percent of GDP, i.e. roughly €2 billion," stated the office. In addition to maintaining Slovak fellowship and ties with Slovakia, the goal of the state's policy towards this new Slovak diaspora should, therefore, be to achieve as high as possible return of these citizens to Slovakia. "This requires updating the current return policy and incorporating current conceptual documents into it," stressed the office. It proposes to develop a unified system of informing the new Slovak diaspora about job opportunities in Slovakia when their return from abroad and to create a scheme to support start-ups for Slovaks returning from abroad. "The systemic solution should also include needs of family members of compatriots returning home," stated the office. The return policy should be the agenda of a newly created unit at the Government Office, which will ensure the implementation of investments under the Attracting and Retaining Talents component, which is part of the priority area of science, research and innovation in the Recovery Plan.
Source: TASR
