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Is there evidence of significant levels of segregation between migrant groups and the majority population?

Code:
RED64
Key Area:
Housing & Segregation
Strand(s):
Racism, Discrimination
21/12/2011 - 18:49
Short Answer

Yes, migrants are excluded from non-profit housing and there are numerous dormitories in Slovenia intended solely for migrant workers.

Qualitative Info

According to the Housing Act, only Slovenian citizens, migrants under the principle of reciprocity and EU nationals with permanent residence in Slovenia have the right to apply for non-profit housing. Consequently, third country nationals are excluded from non-profit schemes. As this also concerns third country nationals with a permanent residence permit, Slovenia is in violation of the Council Directive 2003/109/EC of 25 November 2003 concerning the status of third-country nationals who are long-term residents as well as the European Social Charter (revised).

 

De facto segregation of migrant workers was and still is a big problem in Slovenia. Large numbers of migrant workers were accommodated in dormitories owned by the companies who employed them. Migrants had to pay these companies a rent for the apartment, and they were obliged to stay in these dormitories. The payments of rents were deducted from their salaries. If they wished they could find private accommodation, however, at the expense of an additional rent. The hygienic and living conditions in these dormitories were at times appalling. The situation reached a peak in 2009 and 2010 when due to the economic crisis that affected the construction sector causing many migrants to lose their job making them unable to pay for housing. Only in 2011 when a new Employment and Work of Aliens was adopted it included a provision obliging the employers who also offer accommodation for migrant workers to respect minimum standards of the premises.

 

Source:

Housing Act (Stanovanjski zakon, SZ-1), Official Gazette of the Republic of Slovenia, no. 69/2003.

Employment and Work of Aliens Act (Zakon o zaposlovanju in delu tujcev, ZZDT-1), Official Gazette of the Republic of Slovenia, No. 26/2011.

Mozetič, Polona. Worker's dormitories : from private property to public forum and back again. In: KIRN, Gal (ur.), KRALJ, Gašper (ur.), PIŠKUR, Bojana (ur.). New public spaces : dissensual political and artistic practices in the post-Yugoslav context. Maastricht: Jan van Eyck Academie: Moderna galerija, 2009, str. 49-62.
 

Data
Groups affected/interested Migrants, Refugees, Asylum seekers
Type (R/D) Anti-migrant/xenophobia
Key socio-economic / Institutional Areas Housing
External Url http://www.uradni-list.si/1/objava.jsp?urlid=201126&stevilka=1152
Situation(s)
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