An employee operates the assembly line for the Land Rover Defender model at the Jaguar Land Rover production plant in Nitra on October 25, 2023. (source: Jaroslav Bublinec)
“There are no migrants in Slovakia because we haven’t allowed it, and we’ve taken numerous precautions,” said Robert Fico, prime minister and Smer party leader, in 2016, when Europe was in the grip of a migration crisis.
Fico has successfully used fear of migrants and migration for political advantage in a number of elections, critics say.
His rhetoric has contributed to a negative perception of foreigners who arrive in Slovakia, especially those from non-European and non-Christian backgrounds and cultures, observers agree.
However, not even the current Smer-led government can ignore the fact that the economy needs foreign workers, including from non-EU countries, to fill gaps in the workforce.
In response to calls from employers, the government has adopted several measures to make access to the Slovak labour market easier for foreigners.
Employer representatives have welcomed these changes, though their impact is yet to be seen.
“The measures adopted by the government are a step forward and promise bigger flexibility in the process of recruiting foreigners,” said Andrej Lasz of the Association of Industrial Unions and Transport.
