CZECH REPUBLIC OFFERS JOBS TO BOSNIAN WORKERS

PRAGUE, The Czech Republic (April 23,2008) - The Czech Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs (MLSA) continues with the successful Pilot Project on the “Selection of Qualified Foreign Workers” in Bosnia.

The aim of the project is to open opportunities for qualified candidates who meet the eligibility criteria, i.e. who found employment in the Czech Republic, to attain permanent residence in the Czech Republic after two and a half years, instead of the current five.

Since 1st July 2007 a new category of highly qualified participants of the project has been introduced. It shall be opened for foreigners who are working in the Czech on posts which require university degree and matches their profession (education or working experience). Republic

Participants in this category are entitled to apply for permanent residence permit already after 1,5 years of participation in the project. This advantage will also apply to immediate family members.

Another important change in the project is also extension of the “grace period” for a search of a new job. For all project participants it has been extended from 30 to 45 days.

Participants who in the first year of the project lose their job through no fault of their own are entitled to a 45 day grace period during which they do not lose their visa and their residence permit is not revoked. The above mentioned grace period should serve as time during which participants search for another job in the Czech Republic.

In the course of following years of the pilot project the participants are given the grace period also if they lose their job for other reasons (formulated by the Czech law).

A new country has been involved in the project – India. The citizens of India, together with citizens of other project countries Bosnia, Belarus, Canada, Croatia, Kazakhstan, Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Russian Federation, Serbia and Ukraine, after fulfilling set criteria, can obtain permanent residence permit in the Czech Republic in a shortened period of 2,5 years or in case of the new category already after 1,5 years.

The same opportunity belongs to graduates of Czech universities and secondary schools regardless their country of origin.

This Pilot Project has started in July 2003 and it has been established by The Czech Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs. Since its inception, 1.002 candidates have applied to participate in the project.

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) in the Bosnian capital Sarajevo is the implementing partner responsible for informing the Bosnian public about the project.
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