Addressing unemployment in the Roma community and increasing their chances on the labour market will not be achieved by forcing the Roma to work in order to receive social benefits, but by a systematic development of their skills and opportunities, according to two non-profit organisations, the Centre for Research into Ethnicity and Culture (CVEK) and the Skalica-based Roma Advocacy and Research Centre (RAVS). To mark International Roma Day (April 8), they presented the results of a study conducted last year in six areas around Slovakia aimed at gauging the effectiveness of measures that oblige the Roma to carry out work in order to receive social benefits. The authors of the study, Jarmila Lajčáková and Jana Kadlečíková, pointed out that the current policy of so-called forced labour, which means the obligation to work in order to receive social benefits, is based on the assumption that it will encourage the community concerned to acquire good working habits and will help them to find a permanent job. Moreover, mandatory work is supposed to be a way of showing that nobody gets anything for free, stated Lajčáková. However, the findings of the research showed that this policy does not lead to progress among the Roma, as it does not increase their chances of finding a job. Instead, it is an unsuccessful attempt to re-educate the Roma, stated the CVEK researcher.
Lajčáková went on to say that this policy that requires and determines the type of work to be done creates local power inequalities. Moreover, people in material need often carry out small services for the village for a much lower reward than regular employees would receive for the same work, she said. "The number of those who perform these services varies from month to month, there is a lack of systematic work or opportunities for the personal development of such people. The root of the problem, which is based on the Roma's low level of skills and education, isn't being addressed," said Lajčáková. The two NGOs therefore want the current policy to be complemented by systematic elements that would enable the Roma to develop, help them to complete their education, upgrade their education or skills and offer them a vision of how to find a proper job.
