Evelina DOSEVA Chief Expert Directorate of "Ethnic and Demographic Issues" Council of Ministers, Bulgaria

Transcription

1 MEASURES SOLVING THE PROBLEMS WITH UNEMPLOYED ETHNIC GROUP AND STRATEGY DOCUMENTS, GOOD PRACTICES FOR INTEGRATION OF VULNERABLE MINORITY GROUPS WITH A SPECIAL FOCUS ON ROMA Evelina DOSEVA Chief Expert Directorate of "Ethnic and Demographic Issues" Council of Ministers, Bulgaria I. POPULATION IN BULGARIA The Bulgarian society is multi-ethnic. As per the 2001 census out of 7,973,673 of the total Bulgarian population, some 4.6% (358,815) identified themselves as Roma and 9.5% (757,499) as of Turkish ethnic origin on a 2% representation basis. For the last years a steady trend has been observed of a decrease in the country s population number. The impact that social and economic factors exerted on living conditions resulted in considerable changes in the demographic behaviour of the population which led to negative natural growth. The decrease in the population number and deterioration of population s age profile are the main problems with regard to the demographic development of the country. In the end of 2005 Bulgaria s permanent population was calculated to be people 1. For a period of only one year the population has decreased by people or 0.5% compared to 2004 since the mortality rates exceeded the birth rates. For the period the population number decreased by 5.3% or by people. This negative trend is determined by factors such as negative natural growth and external migration. 1 Source: NSI. 1

2 number Population as of by years and by gender Total Men (right scale) Women (right scale) In the period the number of working-age population 2 (age group years) declined by thousand. This negative trend is due primarily to the low birth rate, population ageing and migration processes. The observed downward trends for the population number in the last years determine the need for continuing the implementation of the policy aimed at increasing the population s economic activity. Increased economic activity will supply the labour force needed for development of the economy (see Annex 1). The political and economic reforms initiated in 1990 were accompanied by sharp falls in economic activity and a sharp increase in unemployment and poverty. The social impact of reforms in Bulgaria was particularly high compared to other Central and Eastern European countries due to frequent political changes and a lack of decisiveness in policies related to the restructuring of the economy coupled with incoherent macro-economic policies. Unemployment and poverty particularly hit the Roma ethnic group. The concentration of those ethnic minorities in certain areas and in declining economic activities resulted in the emergence of 2 Source: NSI (Labour Force Survey). 2

3 pockets of unemployment and poverty in several parts of the country and in many Bulgarian towns. Over the last ten years, the rates of unemployment among Roma have been systematically higher that those for ethnic Bulgarians and those groups constitute a large share of the long-term unemployed. The Roma minority continues to suffer discrimination due to the accumulation over time of factors that have worsened their living conditions. There is political commitment from the government to remedy their problems, but more effort must be put into translating this into concrete action and major efforts and resources will be required to reverse the situation of discrimination, poor living conditions, economic hardship, chronic unemployment, poor health care, appalling housing conditions and lack of effective access to education. Though the Turkish minority is better integrated into political life through elected representation at national and local levels also a number of problems (particularly unemployment) persist. Roma community in Bulgaria is not homogeneousness and the differences are conditioned by large number of indicators historical /time of arriving and settling/, manner of living, language (Roma language at the moment is rarely used and this is a result from the assimilation policy implemented till 1989), religion, etc. The level of unemployment is difficult to be estimated. On one hand it is difficult because the exact number of Roma population is unknown and on the other hand the unemployment registers do not contain statistical information on ethnic principle. The unemployment rate in 2005 amongst Roma population reaches 60%. Considerable part of Roma registered in the Labour Office Directorates is long-term unemployed (over 1 year). In comparison with Bulgarians and Turks, the persons in pre, below and in working age among Roma form the biggest percentage. At the same time the percentage of unemployment among Roma is much higher. The disadvantage of Roma is connected with their lower education and qualification. The received data for the socio-demographic characteristics of Roma community in Bulgaria 3 compared to those of the other two main /taken as number/ ethnic groups Bulgarians and Turks clearly mark a variety of specifics 3 Study conducted by Partners Bulgaria - Roma community in Bulgaria Employment and Independence, assigned by MLSP and supported by the American Agency for International Development 3

4 Table 1. Socio-demographic profiles of the examined individuals according ethnic affiliation (%) Socio-demographic characteristics Ethic affiliation Bulgarians Turks Roma Sex: Male 48,1 50,0 43,3 Female 51,9 50,0 56,7 Age limits ,3 14,4 24, ,5 36,4 31, ,1 32,6 32, ,1 16,7 11,6 Working age In working age 66,6 84,1 89,4 Over working age 33,4 15,9 10,6 Employment Employed 43,5 31,5 19,8 Unemployed 13,1 46,9 53,7 Pensioners 40,4 20,0 17,7 Other unemployed 2,9 1,5 8,8 Education Illiterate 0,8 11,4 16,0 Elementary school 9,2 19,7 35,3 Primary school 25,1 43,2 39,6 Secondary school 45,6 25,0 9,1 Higher than secondary school 19,3 0,8 0,0 Religion Christian 89,0 3,0 47,8 Muslim 2,0 93,2 32,2 Not religious 7,1 1,5 12,3 Place of residence Village 26,4 43,2 34,5 4

5 Small town 26,7 28,8 34,2 Big town 34,1 27,3 27,3 Sofia 12,7 0,8 4,1 Marital status Live alone 11,9 3,0 4,5 Family without children 51,1 31,8 20,8 Family with children 34,6 62,9 72,0 Average monthly income per member of the family Average monthly income per member of the family 114,51 BGN 68,91 BGN 45,66 BGN 5

6 Table 1. Socio-demographic profiles of Roma in and over working age (%) 4 Socio-demographic profiles Възраст In working age (16-60) Over working age (61+) Total 89,4 10,6 Sex Male 43,2 43,6 Female 56,8 56,4 Age limits ,3 0, ,1 0, ,3 0, ,4 100,0 Employment Employed 22,0 1,3 Unemployed 59,7 3,8 Pensioners 8,9 91,0 Other 9,4 3,8 Education Illiterate 11,5 53,8 Elementary school 36,1 28,2 Primary school 42,2 17,9 Secondary school 10,2 0,0 Place of residence Village 34,6 33,3 Small town 34,1 34,6 Big town 26,7 32,1 Sofia 4,6 0,0 Marital status Live alone 1,7 28,2 4 Study conducted by Partners Bulgaria - Roma community in Bulgaria Employment and Independence, 2004, assigned by MLSP and supported by the American Agency for International Development 6

7 Family without children 18,1 43,6 Family with children 77,4 26,9 The structure of Roma in working age shows that the community possesses a serious age potential. More than half of the Roma are up to 40 years old but only one fifth of them are working. About 46% of the Roma live in villages or small towns where the opportunities for permanent incomes are limited. Because of this reason ¾ of Roma community in working age lives in poverty. Normally Roma count for their living on passive sources of incomes (allowances for unemployment, social benefits, etc.) or informal, shady channels. The two forms of making a living are against integration of Roma community long-term assistance provided to persons in working age, most of them young people, is hiding serious risks for creating sustainable culture of dependency. The alternative economy contains in its character the negative potential for creation of shady channels. The conclusions specified below are result of a study conducted in 2005 under the Programme for fight against discrimination international biennial project funded by the European Commission covering the newly accepted countries and candidate countries where the percentage of Roma community is high. A structural poverty already exists in Roma residential areas. As a result of the transitional period this poverty had spread in a large scale and the impoverishment embraced new strata and groups of Roma community who were previously occupied and had incomes. Roma living in the villages and small towns where 46% of them are settled are miserable. They practically do not have any source of incomes they do not own land and do not have access to funding for development of cattlebreeding. In unenviable position are the young people up to 30 years old who even do not have working habits more than 80% of them have never worked. A big part of Roma community are long-term unemployed, they are clients of Social Assistance Offices for a long time and rely entirely on social and humanitarian benefits for their physical existence. This circumstance additionally freezes Roma self-initiativeness and maintains the culture of dependency which reflects negatively to the implementation of development programmes. The current situation of Roma in the labour market is due first and foremost to the implementation of passive measures which deal with the consequences but not with the causes. II. STRATEGY DOCUMENTS Through an intensive process of consultation with Roma leadership and NGOs the National Council prepared a Framework Program for the Equal Integration of the Roma in Bulgarian Society, which 7

8 was adopted by the government in April LEGISLATION The Program for Equal Integration of Romas in Bulgarian Society is a direct result from the open dialogue between the Roma community and the Bulgarian Government and it contains the basic principles of a complete state strategy for implementation of real equality of Roma in Bulgaria. This document is based on the program for Equal Participation of Romas in the Public Life in Bulgaria and the project documents of the government with follows chapters: I. Protection Against Discrimination II. Economic Development III. Health Service IV. Territorial Planning of Roma Residential Districts. V. Education VI. Protection of the Ethnic Spesification and Culture of Roma Ethnic Group in Bulgaria VII. Roma presence/participation in the mass media VIII. The Roma Woman NCCEDI is also responsible for the elaboration and implementation of measures, and execution of control over the implementation of the Framework Programme. After the adoption of the Framework Programme and in correspondence with overall state policy a number of ministries approved the following strategies and action plans under them: A Short-term Strategy for the implementation of the state policy for equal integration of Roma community in the Bulgarian national culture ; A Strategy for Educational Integration of Children and Pupils from Ethnic Minorities; A Strategy for Educational Integration of Children and Pupils from Ethnic Minorities; National Program for Improving the Living Conditions of Roma Population which is a part of the existing since May 2004, National Housing Strategy has been approved by the Council of Ministers. The Program is in line with the objectives and tasks of the Action Plan on the Decade of Roma Inclusion ; 2003/4 Action Plan under the Framework Programme for Equal Integration of Roma in Bulgarian Society. The Law for protection against discrimination 8

9 A National Action Plan for the implementation of Roma Inclusion Decade Initiative was adopted in April Action Plan under the Framework Programme for Equal Integration of Roma in Bulgarian Society. The National Action Plan Combat Discrimination (NAPCD) The Law on fight against discrimination transposes in full the EU Directives for equality - 43/2000/ЕС, 78/2000/ЕС, 75/117/ЕИО, 97/80/ЕО, 76/207/ЕИО and regulates the protection of all natural persons on the territory of the Republic of Bulgaria against all forms of discrimination and at the same time contributes to its prevention and adopts measures for equal opportunities. The government is also aware of the need to achieve a substantial progress towards solving the housing, educational, health, employment and cultural problems of the Roma in the next years. Recently a number of sectoral policies related to the ethnic minorities issues with a focus on Roma have been operationalised in medium- and long-term programming documents and adopted by the Government. 2. LEGISLATION ADOPTED On the Council of Ministers adopted the Rules of Procedure on the Structure, Activities and Organization of the Centre for Educational Integration of Children and Pupils from Ethnic Minorities. The projects to be developed and financed by the Centre will aim at promoting the equal access to quality education and improving the results achieved from training children and pupils from ethnic minorities in Bulgaria. The activities of the Centre will develop following a three-year programme approved by the Council of Minsters. For 2006 the Centre will have a financial resource of BGN from the state budget envisaging a step-by-step increase in the following years. The Council of Ministers adopted on the Action Plan for for Implementation of the Housing Conditions of Roma. The necessary activities to change the legal basis which will facilitate the fulfillment of the National Programme and the Action Plan will be taken in 2006, the activities to draw up and to amend currently acting Rules of Procedure will also continue, measures to improve the existing technical infrastructure are foreseen BGN are 9

10 ensured for road repair works in the Roma quarters for In 2007 the sum envisaged amounts to 1 million BGN. With a Decision of the Council of Ministers of was appointed a National coordinator of The Decade of Roma Inclusion The aim of the initiative The Decade of Roma Inclusion is to coordinate and direct the efforts of the governments and the society in Central and Eastern Europe in order to integrate the Roma population, to overcome the discrimination and poverty of Roma people and to preserve their cultural identity. On the Council of Ministers adopted a Decree on accepting the presidency of The Decade of Roma Inclusion , on joining of Bulgaria to the rules of procedure of the Decade and taking up one year presidency of the initiative on behalf of Bulgaria for the period The presidency of the Republic of Bulgaria of the initiative The Decade of Roma Inclusion will be of help for solving Roma problems, laid down in the strategic documents. III. Measures solving the problems with unemployment ethnic group with a special focus on Roma The disadvantage of the Roma on the labour market is due to their low educational status and qualification background. The immediate objective of a strategic government policy targeted to Roma people is to put a stop to the process of its social degradation and lasting decline in its social status. The description of Roma people s social status in terms of the socio professional structure of society would include the lack of permanent employment or employment that is frequently: a) very poorly paid b) requires no qualification c) of very low social prestige d) not associated with decision making powers, responsibility or freedom or choice. Ensuring access to employment that does not involve a certain degree of responsibility, freedom and social prestige is in effect a way of replicating negative attitudes to the opportunity of improving the level of education or training; such an approach would encourage Roma to seek only jobs that would to ensure the family;s day to day survival. 10

11 Our capacity to invest efforts targeted at the young generations in the Roma community is crucial to the efficiency of any comprehensive program and the prospects of finding a general solution to the serious problems Roma face. It is precisely in the field of that age group s social status that we could resolve the strategic issue of establishing mechanisms to ensure equal access opportunities to the labor market to all Bulgarian citizens. Roma maintain an even more pessimistic assessment of the position they hold in the socio professional structure of our society as a result of ethnicity based discriminatory practices against them and intolerance on the part of non Roma groups. Roma s self assessment includes the negative dimensions related to poorly paid work, the temporary nature of their employment, their dependency on the employer s goodwill and the high degree of job uncertainty. Public opinion on the positions of Roma in the socio professional structure of modern Bulgarian society involves all of the abovementioned elements but is further burdened with negative ethno stereotypes against Roma. Figures from a number of sociological and socio psychological surveys show that the Roma group is the only one against which numerous negative stereotypes are in targeted. All other ethno cultural groups declare unwillingness to have contacts with Roma. The chronicity of this status and the reproduction of the poverty culture entail sentiments and open fear of competition in the labor market. This is especially reflected in overrepresented etatistic and egalitarian attitudes predominant in Roma culture. Various programmes and measures for social and economic integration of unemployed Roma are being realized on the labour market. Their wider objective is to provide adequate job opportunities and professional qualification for the Roma community. A number of Phare funded activities have been undertaken in the area of ethnic minorities integration and directed to support the relevant policies by provision of technical assistance for institution building and investment supplies and works - in the area of education, health, employment, and living conditions. Phare BG 9907 Promoting the Integration of the Roma - Under the project 2 components have been implemented: 1) Access to education for Roma - 50 teachers received additional qualification and 50 young Roma were trained to work as teacher assistants in mixed classes; a job description for teacher assistants was drafted and submitted to the Ministry of Education and Science for approval; a notebook for the Roma students from the preparatory classes was elaborated and published; a guide to the textbooks in history for grades 1-4 involving elements of the Roma 11

12 culture and history was elaborated and 100 teachers and teacher assistants were trained to use it; 2) Improving living conditions in Roma quarters included an amendment of general town-planning scheme as well as architectural design, structural engineering, electrical power, sewage and water supply system in two pilot regions. BG 9907 Promoting the Integration of the Roma, sub-project BG Access to Education - this project supported the establishment of a National Pedagogy Laboratory on Intercultural Interactions at South West University in Blagoevgrad. Among the outputs were: the provision of access to information for trainees from minorities, including a specialized library for minorities education, training of teachers from Bulgarian schools to help teachers from Roma schools with exchange of ideas and demonstration of good practices, and training of parents of Roma children or special schools for parents. Child welfare reform, Component 3: Prevention of drop-out of Roma children with the support of World Bank and Japanese Fund for Social Development. The project was focused on children at the age of preschool in the ten biggest cities in Bulgaria. The project activities included pre-school education for children at risk from the most vulnerable Roma communities, inclusion of assistant teachers in the curriculum activities and in the motivation of parents, provision of schools materials, organizing of extra curriculum activities. As outcomes over children have been included in program activities and have been successfully integrated in first grade; 130 assistant teachers have been trained. As result of the project, the long-term activities of NGO-s and the intervention of the World Bank, the preschool education became compulsory. Phare BG Roma Population Integration The project aims to foster adequate integration of the Roma people into Bulgarian society mainly through addressing priorities in the Framework Programme related to the development of education and improved access to administrative services, to improve the relationship between the Roma and the majority populations, their mutual understanding and culture sharing in particular. Three components were implemented: 1) Ensuring access to quality education for Roma children through provision of additional qualification of 300 school teachers / masters and university training of 92 young Roma to work as teacher assistants in ethnically mixed classes; 2) Bridging activities that aim at increasing opportunities for young Roma to work in the public administration; 3) Development of public awareness strategy and positive Roma images campaign. 12

13 Phare 2001 BG Social Inclusion (the beneficiary is the Ministry of Labour and Social Policy). Two components are directed to: 1) the development of Roma information and cultural centers, literacy training for Roma minorities, 2) job creation programmes for Roma minorities. Phare 2001 BG Ensuring Minority Access to Health Care (the beneficiary is the Ministry of Health). The project involves the creation of a sustainable Roma health promotion scheme, improved access to health care in 15 towns and health issues awareness campaigns directed to the Roma community. Medical equipment and furniture for 15 GP practices delivered, health services for predominantly Roma population provided, medical staff and Roma mediators trained aiming to health promotion amidst Roma population. In relation to this project a Background Study for the Roma Health Status is being implemented (Phare BG /LCR). Background Survey on Urbanization and Housing Conditions in Roma Neighbourhoods prepared as a preliminary study for the below presented Phare project The finalized in June 2003 survey has the objective to provide a clear picture of the existing living situation in the areas with predominant minorities population; to survey existing Roma housing and urbanization policies; to extend possible know how and expertise upon the good territorial planning and urbanization practices towards improving the Roma minority living conditions, favoring at the same time their integration into the mainstream society. Phare 2002, BG Urbanization and Social Development of Area with Disadvantaged Minority Populations. The project aim is to improve the quality of life in urban communities (in 6 municipalities) with predominant minority population by encouraging better integration of these groups into the urban society and economy. The project components are: building public technical and social infrastructure, incl. public utility infrastructure, street infrastructure, a kindergarten and a community centre; implementing vocational training and temporary employment scheme as well as a pilot business support initiative. Improve public services to the Roma population through increasing Roma involvement in the public administration and improving the human rights and cultural awareness of relevant institutions (conducted in 2003) a project of the World Bank aimed at enhancing the policy making and implementation capacity of the NCEDI at the central office. The project contributed to the 13

14 improvement of the efficiency of the relationships between the regional structures on ethnic and demographic issues and the NCEDI. The qualification of the government and regional experts in the in area of ethnic and demographic issues was improved through a number of trainings. Journalists from national, regional and local media were trained to work in the area of multiethnic relations. BUL/03/001 Development of National Strategy and Action Plan for Poverty Reduction and Social Exclusion an UNDP project aimed to support the development a comprehensive National Strategy (PRS) and Action Plan on Poverty Reduction and Social Exclusion as one of the major issues for Bulgaria to address in the process of EU accession. One of the main results is the development of a National Strategy and an Action Plan for Reducing Poverty. The main partner is the Ministry of Labour and Social Policy. Technical and Capacity Building Support to the Directorate Ethnic and Demographic Issues provided by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). The overall objective of the project is to build institutional, operational and policy making capacity of the directorate and its staff so that to enable the directorate operate successfully and independently in projects formulating, managing, programming and evaluating. Phare BG 2003/ Educational and Medical Integration of Vulnerable Minority Groups with a Special Focus on the Roma. Both project components Health and Education aim at facilitating better access of Roma community to respectively health care and educational quality services in 5 pilot regions through applying various activities. Among them are: enhancing the capacity of the relevant educational and health professionals to work in multicultural environment, facilitating the introduction of intercultural education in the kindergartens and the schools, development of curriculum for health mediators education in the medical universities/colleges, delivering preventive health care units to conduct medical interventions in Roma quarters and remote rural areas, implement immunization campaigns, conduct preventive examinations and take urgent anti-epidemic measures, upgrade the school material base and provide supplies of educational materials. Phare BG Restructuring of pilot multi-profile hospitals and developing of emergency medical care to improve the access to health care of vulnerable groups of the population with special focus on Roma population (the beneficiary is the Ministry of Health). The project contributes to the provision of access to quality medical services, including emergency medical 14

15 services to ethnic minorities with special focus on Roma population, disabled persons, and persons living in remote regions; improvement of the quality of life of the population by reducing the mortality rate, secondary complications and late disability, caused by emergency medical cases, especially cardio-vascular diseases by developing a model and establishing pilot centres in 2 regions, which will be on the territory of respective multi-profile hospitals for active treatment, supply of mobile diagnostic units, medical and non-medical equipment. Phare multi annual project , Improvement of the situation and inclusion of the disadvantaged ethnic minorities with a special focus on the Roma, (BG 2004/ phase 1, BG 2005/ phase 2 and BG 2006// phase 3). The purpose of the project is to contribute to the systematical improvement of the situation of disadvantaged ethnic minorities with a special focus on Roma through implementing specific measures with regard to education, health and urbanization and establishment of all levels institutional set-up. It focuses on: improving access to quality integrated education; improving interactions between the disadvantaged ethnic minorities and central/local public administration and police structure; creating conditions for social integration of young Roma through participation in higher education; improving material base of selected integrated schools with ethnically mixed classes; improving health status of Roma by performed preventive health care services, conducting health promotion and education campaigns, mobile units provision; improving disadvantaged ethnic minorities social integration by upgrading the existing public technical and social infrastructure; enhancing the administrative capacity to manage social cohesion projects and institutional set-up, and developing of common monitoring system for the ethnic minority issues which includes a software programming and training for the relevant staff in DEDI, Ministries of Education and Science, Health and Regional Development and Public Works on the use of the system. One of the leading political priorities of the Bulgarian government in eliminating the risk of social isolation of the Roma and their integration into the Bulgarian society is solving the problems related to their employment. In this regard the measures that have been undertaken are directed to the implementation of programs for qualification and employment that are in compliance with the labour market needs as well as the specificity of some traditional work attitudes of the Roma population. One of the important mechanisms for implementation of these priorities is the international initiative Decade for Roma inclusion under which there is a plan elaborated by the 15

16 Employment Agency for The plan provides for activities related to improving the adaptability of employment of the Roma people on the labour market and promoting of entrepreneurship. The results for the period January 20 August 2006 as follows: More than 12 thousand Roma people were included in employment and training whereas 2/3 of them are in employment, the rest - in training. Additionally, 7500 Roma people are motivated and directed to job seeking and inclusion in courses for vocational qualification. The process of social integration and improvement of the economic status of the Roma finds its application in diverse initiatives and instruments: The specialized employment exchanges organized by the Employment Agency in the period May August 2006 in different regions of the country. They establish direct and fast contacts between employers and job seekers and aim at the selection of suitable candidates for the vacancies or for training before employment. 10 employment exchanges that have been planned were conducted till 21 August 2006 in 10 towns job seekers and 164 employers took part in them whereas vacancies were announced. Most of the vacancies were of a seasonal character (mainly in agriculture and manufacturing industry) and they were opened gradually. For each vacancy a selection amongst the unemployed Roma is made according to the requirements of the employers. The respective Labour Offices Directorates directed unemployed Roma people to the vacancies announced by the 10 employment exchanges. Of them 640 persons were employed. The initial literacy training and raising of the qualification of the Roma people is another important measure with a long-term effect and benefit for the individual and the family to which belongs, the Roma community and the society in general. A National Program for initial literacy and qualification of Roma people was launched in the beginning of May 2006 for the implementation of which there are funds at the amount of BGN 1.65 million from the state budget and BGN ensured by the Institute for International Cooperation of the Association of the German people s universities unemployed Roma people were included in the initial literacy training till the end of August. A specialized training in andragogy was successfully completed by 72 teachers. 16

17 The Minister of Labour and Social Policy approved Methodical instructions on Provision of specialized individual consultation directed to solving of specific problems of Roma ethnic community. The implementation of the Instruction aims at better targeting of work of the labour offices with the unemployed Roma people. This will raise the active attitude of Roma to participate in literacy and vocational training and employment through the mediation of the labour offices. A big part of the Roma population is subject to monthly social assistance. The majority of it is illiterate or with primary or lower education, without vocational qualification. With a view to acquire professional skills, permanent work discipline as well as income and increase of income, and last but not least, to reduce the marginalization of that group, unemployed Roma were included in the National Program From social assistance to provision of employment. On the occasion of the peer-review of the European Commission, Haskovo municipal administration Project has been elaborated under the National program From social assistance to provision of employment. 300 jobs were created for the implementation of activities for improvement of infrastructure in settlements with compact Roma population on the territory of Samokov municipality and activities related to forestation of municipal terrains. 198 unemployed Roma people were employed under the Project till 21 August In June the Employment Agency approved for financing 65 projects for the creation of 912 jobs in activities for improvement of infrastructure of quarters and villages with compact Roma population. The activities envisaged by the projects are for the period July November Of particular importance for the education of Roma children is the training of unemployed Roma in the new speciality assistant to the teacher. 95 unemployed Roma people have been trained till 21 August to acquire vocational qualification in bringing up children. The labour offices made a selection of training institutions and unemployed Roma to form the groups for training. In the framework of the component Employment for Roma within the project Job opportunities for business support two Roma business centers (in Burgas and in Pazardjik) have been established. These centers provide a grant scheme (free amount of up to BGN 2 000) which is combined with financial leasing of up to BGN and 9 17

18 months grace period and 48 months on deferred payments. The centers also provide training for acquiring vocational qualification for starting up of own business; training of private agricultural producers and entrepreneurs in EU requirements and opportunities for receiving EU funds; motivation training for job seeking and taking up a job; qualification training. Over the period 1 January 11 August 2006 in the framework of the component Employment for Roma, 301 Roma people were included in training, 185 were employed, 26 were self-employed and 9 firms received financial leasing. Besides the initiatives listed above, the unemployed Roma as part of the priority groups on the labour market (long-term unemployed, women, youths, unemployed persons above the age of 50 and others) are provided with employment and training in all other programs and measures for employment and training. The Ministry of Labour and Social Policy developed a Phare 2004 funded project Ethnic Minorities Labour Market Integration in accordance with the recommendations of the European Union stated in the following documents: Accession Partnership and National Programme for the Adoption of Aquis. The project will contribute to: the objectives of the National Economic Development Plan in the following ways: - Provide vocational training to the unemployed from Roma minority groups in the targeted geographical areas, thus ensuring that human resources meet market requirements and consequently, reducing unemployment among disadvantaged groups; - Provide business support to Roma minority groups in the targeted areas in order to encourage economic development and consequent growth of job opportunities; - Support access to temporary employment to the long-term unemployed from Roma minority groups in the targeted areas, thus supporting their integration into the labour market. the implementation of the Framework Programme/Action Plan for Equal Integration of Roma in Bulgarian Society in the following ways: - Will implement training and employment programmes in line with the needs of the labour market, while taking into account the particular traditional working and vocational attitudes prevalent in the respective Roma groups (section 2.1. Employment of the Framework Programme); 18

19 - Will establish a mechanism to provide business advice and support to those Roma wishing to start a business activity or to expand and improve existing concerns (section 2.1. Employment of the Framework Programme). The main objectives of the project are: - To contribute to the social and economic integration of disadvantaged minority communities with a particular focus on Roma - in Bulgaria by implementing targeted active labour market policies in selected geographical areas with ethnically mixed populations; - Implementation of the measures under the Chapter Employment of the Framework Programme for Equal Integration of the Roma in Bulgarian Society and the Action Plan for implementation of this Framework Programme. The Call for proposals under the Grant scheme of the project has been launched and it is expected the contracts with the successful applicants to be concluded by November 30, 2006 at the approximate total amount of MEUR The specifics of interethnical relations and the respective social problems connected with these relations imposed the introduction of a special state institution. To address this urgent need in December, 2004 the Council of Ministers adopted Decree 333 for the restructuring of the National Council on Ethnic and Demographic Issues (NCEDI). The NCEDI was transformed into a National Council for Cooperation on Ethnic and Demographic Issues (NCCEDI) and a special Directorate Ethnic and Demographic Issues was established to administratively assist the NCCEDI and actively participate in the formulation and conducting of the governmental policy in the filed of multi-ethnic relations. The established Ethnic and Demographic Issues Directorate coordinates the work of civil servants in 9 ministries. where there are directorates or departments working on ethnic and demographic issues in the respective policy areas. This structure also co-operates with the NGOs so as to coordinate the proactive efforts to combat discirmination. The NCCEDI at Council of Ministers in general are deeply convinced that the integration of the Roma people into the Bulgarian society is a long-term process for the success of which a good coordination and permanent efforts are being implemented on the part of the state as well as the civil society structures. 19

20 System for monitoring and evaluation for the implementation of the Framework program for the equal integration of Roma in Bulgarian Society was adopted by NCCEDI in July This system was implemented at district and municipal level. It is foreseen training on the methodology for the implementation of the system for the district and municipal experts who will be responsible for its implementation. The monitoring system is based on the qualitative and quantitative indicators, identified through the process of elaboration of needs assessment analyses within the framework of the project activities, funded by the state budget and beneficiary NCCDEI. This methodology ensures system for external monitoring. This mechanism follows the approach to systematically accumulate information and analyze measures implemented towards achievement of level of social cohesion. This monitoring and evaluation system will work under the authority of Ethnic and Demographic Issues Directorate and its district and municipal experts network, NGO s, members of NCCEDI. This will ensure the connection between the evaluation and monitoring of the state Roma integration policy (implementation of the Framework program). The outputs of the system will create the necessary and sufficient volume of information for the situation of the process of the Roma integration in the different spheres of the society. This system will serve a special role for ensuring the data for the needs assessment of the Roma situation at any time, at the respective district/ municipalities regarding all aspects of quality of life. The outputs of the system will be used for the further correction of the existing policy measures and identifying of new pro-active measures for Roma integration. Main challenge which Member states are facing is building the administrative capacity at local level for identification and submission of successful projects to be funded as well as their implementation in compliance with the European procedures. The European dimension of the Roma poverty provides useful framework for the policy. Firstly Roma are not poor only in Central and Eastern Europe. Secondly the process of European integration proposes unique opportunity for measures for fight against Roma poverty at international level. This process enables different Member states to learn from each other. And thirdly the creation of integrated Europe will not finish with ratification of accession treaties the real integration supposes long-term approach for decreasing the poverty and particularly the Roma poverty. In HRD OP, resolving the issues of vulnerable groups as a whole, and of the ethnic minority groups, including Roma, is considered a horizontal priority. In this sense, all actions, aimed at 20

21 improving levels in economic activities, employment, education, qualification, social inclusion, equal access to social and medical services adhere to the principles of equality among all citizens in the Republic of Bulgaria. In the course of implementation of all actions, included in the Operational Programme, a particular emphasis shall be laid on the establishment of adequate instruments, to allow for an effective coping with the specific issues for each of the targeted groups. Therefore, during the programming phase of the HRD OP, specific issues of the Roma ethnic community, which require an individual approach in order to be resolved, have been given due consideration. The resolving of those issues through the operations under HRD OP shall be complemented by the interventions, envisaged in the Regional Development OP, as well as by the National Strategic Plan for the Development of Rural Regions ( ). A substantial part of the operations under HRD OP are aimed at resolving the problems of vulnerable groups representatives, including the Roma population. The Strategy of the Operational Programme in the area of Human Resources Development corresponds to the specific needs of all vulnerable groups representatives in the areas of the labour market, the education and training, the access to social and medical services. 21