Prevention of segregation and support of social integration of third-country employees of manufacturing companies at their places of work and residence
The project is focused on the social and spatial concentrations of third-country and EU Member States nationals employed by manufacturing companies. It explores the forms, causes and social consequences of concentration of foreign nationals; identifies, discusses and assesses the risks and potential outcomes of the social and spatial concentrations of foreign nationals in selected localities. The objective of the research is both to learn about the current state and anticipate future risks, and to draft recommendations, policies and measures for the prevention of social exclusion and segregation of foreign nationals; as well as to create procedures and instruments to stimulate integration. The aim is to prevent the emergence and development of strong social and spatial concentrations of foreign nationals in our towns. The findings will be used also in recommendations for policy amendments at national level, with sensitive consideration of specific situations emerging in various local contexts.
The implementation of the project is based on the objectives of the research and consists of three parts:
1. Identification and selection of localities of spatial concentration of foreign nationals working in the manufacturing industry
Localities where foreign nationals working in the manufacturing industry are concentrated will be mapped on the basis of statistical data, research studies, media reports and consultations with the Centres for the Integration of Foreign Nationals in the individual regions. The output will be a database and map of localities of spatial concentration of foreign workers in the manufacturing industry. The second step will involve the selection of localities for case studies. The absolute number and the proportion of foreign nationals in relation to the population of a town will be taken into account.
2. Case studies in selected localities
The case studies in selected localities will be carried out in two stages. In the first, the local places of concentration and segregation of foreign nationals will be identified in the field. An analysis of statistical data and other relevant documents will then serve to map the economic, social and demographic structure of the localities, including the characteristics of the groups of foreigners and their spatial distribution. The manner of emergence and formation of social and spatial segregation will then be investigated through interviews with the local actors. In the second stage, the research will focus on the life of foreign nationals in the places where they are concentrated and segregated – the daily rhythm of their lives, the spaces that foreign workers use, and their contacts with the majority society. The key outcome of this phase will be the “Methodology of Identifying Localities of “Residential Segregation”.
3. Evaluation of the findings, methodology and recommendations
The findings from the case studies will be analysed with view to the risks and potential of residential segregation and its impact on the integration of foreign nationals. The generalised results will be confronted with migration and integration policies at local and national levels and assessed in the context of professional studies on integration and migration of foreign workers in the Czech Republic and elsewhere. The evaluation of the findings will be the basis for the draft and expert seminar discussion of the “Methodological Recommendations for the Prevention of Residential Segregation, Mitigation of Its Negative Consequences and Support of Integration of Foreign Nationals”.
Project period: 01/2014 - 12/2015
Project beneficiary: Charles University in Prague (Department of Social Geography and Regional Development of the Faculty of Science, Centre for the Research of Towns and Regions)
Project partner: Multicultural Centre Prague
MCP implementation team:- Lucie Trlifajová, lucie.trlifajova@mkc.cz
- Marek Čaněk, marek.canek@gmail.com
The project is implemented within the framework of the Technology Agency of the Czech Republic OMEGA programme in support of applied research in social sciences and experimental development.