\"Are we prepared for the fact that six out of ten police officers will be Roma?\" - challenges in employment
\"Are we prepared for the fact that six out of ten police officers will be Roma?\" - said experts at a workshop of the Oeconomus Economic Research Foundation, where they analysed the situation of the Roma community in the labour market. Participants said that although employment indicators are improving, those who lost out after the regime change still face serious structural and social obstacles. The conference also heard success stories and suggestions for solutions.
At the event, senior analyst Andrea Szegedi, MD, revealed that the Roma were the biggest losers of the regime change, with employment falling dramatically. Although the rates have improved, there is still a significant gap with the majority of the population, mainly due to low education levels and discrimination.
Examining the 2024 data, both Roma men and Roma women's employment rates lag behind those of the majority society, but have come a long way since 1971 and especially since 1993.(The employment rate for Roma fell to 22 percent in 1993, with women's employment falling to 15 percent.)
In 2024, the employment rate for Roma men approached 60 percent and for Roma women 41 percent.
At the end of the presentation, the focus was on the problems to be solved: the employment rate of Roma is still below that of the majority society, low education levels, high rates of early school leavers, the number of NEET youth, the disadvantages caused by peripheral areas, and the repeatedly mentioned discrimination still have a negative impact on the labour market of Roma.
There are positive examples
.The mayor of Dravaivány says more and more people are working, and employers are supporting Roma employees, for example by providing minibuses to transport public workers to rural areas. He pointed out that the experience with Roma women in the local horticulture is very positive: they work very hard and thoroughly.
The Integrom programme helps young Roma intellectuals to find their feet in multinational companies, with mentoring programmes and internship opportunities:
It is no longer a sensation that a Roma is working in a multinational company.
The Gandhi Nonprofit has shown that learning and work success can be a positive example, with a 12% graduation rate. In Tiszaadony, the FETE program engages families and builds from the ground up, but faces difficulties funding wages and purchasing raw materials, so they are proposing a contribution cut.
The director general of the Directorate General for Social Opportunities stressed the growing citizenship of the Roma community and the responsibility of the majority society in inclusion, warning of social changes and also the responsibility of society: "Are we prepared for the fact that six out of ten policemen will be Roma?" Is the majority society ready to accept the fact that after a certain level, origin is no longer an issue?" - the director general asked rhetorically.
What are some good practices for employing Roma workers?
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