Chudoba Rómov vo vzťahu k trhu práce v Slovenskej republike
Poverty of Romanies in connection with the labour force market in the Slovak republic

Summary/Abstract: Poverty of Romanies in connection with the labour force market in the Slovak republic. The essay about “The poverty and the labour force market” is a part of a wider economic and sector analysis of poverty and qualitative research into Romany settlements, co-ordinated by World Bank in Slovakia (the survey carried out from December 2000 to March 2001). The analysis is focused on the essence and extent of poverty in connection with the labour force market and existing policies and programmes trying to regulate poverty of Romany population. Since the self-assertion in labour force market is a crucial factor influencing the poverty rate, the essay puts emphasis exactly on employment and work. Even though there are no official statistical data about the status of Romanies in Slovakia after the year 1998 available, it is doubtless the ethnicity is in a high correlation with poverty. Our knowledge so far is confirming the fact of apparently higher poverty rate of Romany households compared to the non-Romany households. Likewise, there are other well-known specific features of poverty-stricken part of Romany population: low education standard, poor health, unacceptable living conditions, lack of access to basic infrastructure (running water, sewerage, electricity), as well as insufficient participation in executive power and interest representation. The aim of the qualitative analysis of Romany settlements is to fill gaps in all available data and to create a realistic picture of living conditions and social protection of Romanies in Slovakia, and their access to social service. The results of the qualitative analysis indicate it is not possible to approach Romany problem and Romany question as a unified issue. There is a wide inner differentiation among Romanies and this differentiation is not based on differentiation criteria applied to a majority society. Basic differentiation among Romany population is conditioned by following factors: Factor 1: state of region, factor 2: type of integration or possibly segregation, factor 3: concentration rate, total number, factor 4: majority society: Romany society ratio In proportion to marginalisation degree of given regions of Slovakia, also poverty degree of certain population group, especially the Romany group, is increasing. In such regions, there are settlements, i.e. segregated communities where subjectively perceived absolute poverty can be found -defined by following criteria: non-existence of a decent housing, non-sufficient number of beds for household members, shortage of money for everyday food and clothing, non-existence of working social welfare network. Social differentiation of Romanies is transferred into different life strategies, into taking or possibly non-taking chances and possibilities, and is displayed in all dimensions of social exclusion: economic, social, cultural, and political ones. The essay identifies main controversial issues of every above mentioned dimensions followed

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