Mongolians in the Czech Republic
Encyclopedia
Mongols in the Czech Republic form one of the country's smaller ethnic groups. Workers from Mongolia comprised 3.6% of the foreign workforce , making them the third-largest non-European Union group behind Ukrainians and Vietnamese, and the fifth-largest group overall.
from Mongolia lived in the Czech Republic
, according to the local police
; by 31 March 2006, that figure had grown slightly to 2,607 individuals, including 2,051 workers and 213 businessmen. The following year would see significant growth in the Mongol population, which nearly tripled to 7,515 individuals by June 2007. As of July 2008, an additional thirty to forty Mongols were arriving in the Czech Republic for work every week, many via train. Their population had been expected to continue to grow at a rapid pace, since Mongolia, along with Vietnam, was chosen in 2008 as one of the nations to supply manpower to the Czech Republic to replace North Korean guest workers
, whose visas were not renewed after international concern that their wages were being confiscated by the North Korean government and used to support their nuclear programme
.
However, at the beginning of 2009, the Czech government decided they would no longer grant employment visas to Mongol or Vietnamese labourers, in response to an economic downturn which had left 380,000 Czech citizens without jobs. Visa issuance officially halted on 1 April that year; the government stated it would resume at some unspecified future date. They also announced a plan to offer €500 and a free plane ticket back to Ulaanbaatar for any Mongol workers on their territory who lost their jobs; a spokeswoman for the Interior Ministry stated that the plan was intended to prevent unemployed foreign workers from remaining in the country illegally. From February to April, Mongols formed 66% of the total 1,345 foreigners who took advantage of such offers from the Czech government.
, there about 500 Mongols are also employed at a steering wheel-cover firm in the South Moravian Region
town of Blansko
, and a few hundred more in Plzeň. In March 2007, those in Blansko became the target of protests organised by the right-wing National Pride group, of whom one was arrested for giving a Hitler Salute
. Yet despite the tensions between the Mongols and the citizens of Blansko, few local people actually participated in those protests; the demonstrators were described as being Neo-Nazis from other parts of the Czech Republic.
and illegal immigration
from Mongolia to the Czech Republic are growing problems. Mongols make up one of the larger groups of illegal migrants detained at the border with Slovakia
. Previously, Ukraine
had been one of the main sources of illegal foreign workers for the Czech Republic, but many had moved on westward to other countries of the European Union
, lured by higher wages; Mongols have been one of the main groups which has replaced them. The Czech government are working with the Mongolia's government in efforts to control the illegal migration, in a programme similar to those they already operated with the governments of Moldova
, Armenia
, and Ukraine
, which combined education in the source country about the danger of abuse that foreign workers face, and increased enforcement in the destination country.
There are fifteen Czech work agencies with permits from the Czech government to import workers from Mongolia. However, only two such agencies have permits from the Mongolia's government to recruit on their territory; many thus operate without authorisation. This lack of registration is the reason why Czech government figures consistently show a large number of migrants from Mongolia—such as a total of 2,000 in 2007—while Mongolia's government statistics show just a small number of workers leaving their country with the Czech Republic as their destination.
Migration history
In 2005, only 1,900 MongolsMongolia
Mongolia is a landlocked country in East and Central Asia. It is bordered by Russia to the north and China to the south, east and west. Although Mongolia does not share a border with Kazakhstan, its western-most point is only from Kazakhstan's eastern tip. Ulan Bator, the capital and largest...
from Mongolia lived in the Czech Republic
Czech Republic
The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Poland to the northeast, Slovakia to the east, Austria to the south, and Germany to the west and northwest....
, according to the local police
Law enforcement in the Czech Republic
Policing in the Czech Republic is the responsibility of the Police of the Czech Republic.- Organisation :Among the departments in the force are the order police service, the criminal police service, the traffic police service, the administration activity service, the Safety service, the service for...
; by 31 March 2006, that figure had grown slightly to 2,607 individuals, including 2,051 workers and 213 businessmen. The following year would see significant growth in the Mongol population, which nearly tripled to 7,515 individuals by June 2007. As of July 2008, an additional thirty to forty Mongols were arriving in the Czech Republic for work every week, many via train. Their population had been expected to continue to grow at a rapid pace, since Mongolia, along with Vietnam, was chosen in 2008 as one of the nations to supply manpower to the Czech Republic to replace North Korean guest workers
Koreans in the Czech Republic
There are small numbers of Koreans in the Czech Republic, comprising both North and South Koreans.-Students:Most North Korean international students in the 1950s studied in either Czechoslovakia or Hungary. In 1955, there were student demonstrations at Charles University in response to the...
, whose visas were not renewed after international concern that their wages were being confiscated by the North Korean government and used to support their nuclear programme
North Korea and weapons of mass destruction
North Korea has declared that it has nuclear weapons and is believed by many to have nuclear weapons. The CIA assesses that North Korea also has a substantial arsenal of chemical weapons...
.
However, at the beginning of 2009, the Czech government decided they would no longer grant employment visas to Mongol or Vietnamese labourers, in response to an economic downturn which had left 380,000 Czech citizens without jobs. Visa issuance officially halted on 1 April that year; the government stated it would resume at some unspecified future date. They also announced a plan to offer €500 and a free plane ticket back to Ulaanbaatar for any Mongol workers on their territory who lost their jobs; a spokeswoman for the Interior Ministry stated that the plan was intended to prevent unemployed foreign workers from remaining in the country illegally. From February to April, Mongols formed 66% of the total 1,345 foreigners who took advantage of such offers from the Czech government.
Demography and distribution
Aside from the community in PraguePrague
Prague is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic. Situated in the north-west of the country on the Vltava river, the city is home to about 1.3 million people, while its metropolitan area is estimated to have a population of over 2.3 million...
, there about 500 Mongols are also employed at a steering wheel-cover firm in the South Moravian Region
South Moravian Region
South Moravian Region is an administrative unit of the Czech Republic, located in the south-western part of its historical region of Moravia, with exception of Jobova Lhota, that belongs to Bohemia. Its capital is Brno the 2nd largest city of the Czech Republic. The region is famous for its wine...
town of Blansko
Blansko
Blansko is a town in Blansko District in the South Moravian Region of the Czech Republic. Blansko is the biggest town in Blansko District.Blansko was mentioned for the first time as a castle in 1141, while a town began to develop near it by 1277...
, and a few hundred more in Plzeň. In March 2007, those in Blansko became the target of protests organised by the right-wing National Pride group, of whom one was arrested for giving a Hitler Salute
Hitler salute
The Nazi salute, or Hitler salute , was a gesture of greeting in Nazi Germany usually accompanied by saying, Heil Hitler! ["Hail Hitler!"], Heil, mein Führer ["Hail, my leader!"], or Sieg Heil! ["Hail victory!"]...
. Yet despite the tensions between the Mongols and the citizens of Blansko, few local people actually participated in those protests; the demonstrators were described as being Neo-Nazis from other parts of the Czech Republic.
Illegal migration
Human traffickingHuman trafficking
Human trafficking is the illegal trade of human beings for the purposes of reproductive slavery, commercial sexual exploitation, forced labor, or a modern-day form of slavery...
and illegal immigration
Illegal immigration
Illegal immigration is the migration into a nation in violation of the immigration laws of that jurisdiction. Illegal immigration raises many political, economical and social issues and has become a source of major controversy in developed countries and the more successful developing countries.In...
from Mongolia to the Czech Republic are growing problems. Mongols make up one of the larger groups of illegal migrants detained at the border with Slovakia
Slovakia
The Slovak Republic is a landlocked state in Central Europe. It has a population of over five million and an area of about . Slovakia is bordered by the Czech Republic and Austria to the west, Poland to the north, Ukraine to the east and Hungary to the south...
. Previously, Ukraine
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
had been one of the main sources of illegal foreign workers for the Czech Republic, but many had moved on westward to other countries of the European Union
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
, lured by higher wages; Mongols have been one of the main groups which has replaced them. The Czech government are working with the Mongolia's government in efforts to control the illegal migration, in a programme similar to those they already operated with the governments of Moldova
Moldova
Moldova , officially the Republic of Moldova is a landlocked state in Eastern Europe, located between Romania to the West and Ukraine to the North, East and South. It declared itself an independent state with the same boundaries as the preceding Moldavian Soviet Socialist Republic in 1991, as part...
, Armenia
Armenia
Armenia , officially the Republic of Armenia , is a landlocked mountainous country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia...
, and Ukraine
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
, which combined education in the source country about the danger of abuse that foreign workers face, and increased enforcement in the destination country.
There are fifteen Czech work agencies with permits from the Czech government to import workers from Mongolia. However, only two such agencies have permits from the Mongolia's government to recruit on their territory; many thus operate without authorisation. This lack of registration is the reason why Czech government figures consistently show a large number of migrants from Mongolia—such as a total of 2,000 in 2007—while Mongolia's government statistics show just a small number of workers leaving their country with the Czech Republic as their destination.
Notable individuals
- Gombojavyn Ochirbat, former General Secretary of the People's Revolutionary Party of Mongolia, lived in Prague for two years
External links
- Czech-Mongolian Society of Brno, Plzeň, and Prague
- Mongolians in the Czech Republic: the Assisted Voluntary Return Programme, a photoset from FlickrFlickrFlickr is an image hosting and video hosting website, web services suite, and online community that was created by Ludicorp in 2004 and acquired by Yahoo! in 2005. In addition to being a popular website for users to share and embed personal photographs, the service is widely used by bloggers to...
user bjjs