The Czech Chamber of Deputies has approved in first reading a draft amendment to several laws, including the asylum law, aimed at tightening sanctions for people smugglers and facilitating the Czech stay and employment conditions for selected groups of foreigners. The legislation is supported by the five-party government coalition and the senior opposition ANO movement.

According to Interior Minister Vit Rakusan, the bill will make the crackdown on organised migration more effective by imposing up to eight years in jail on migrant-smugglers who expose a higher number of persons to inhuman or humiliating treatment. Previous court decisions have defined a higher number as seven people at least. Rakusan added that the amendment might help prevent further migrant waves coming from Asia and Africa.

The bill also increases the punishment for foreigners who do not respect Czechia’s decision on their expulsion from the country, with up to two years in prison.

In connection with the EU directive from October 2021, the amendment to the asylum law facilitates the conditions for the stay and employment of foreigners who hold blue cards. Eligibility to apply for Czech stay and high-skilled jobs will include asylum holders and seasonal workers. Blue card holders will also have a better chance in the labor market elsewhere in the EU and will gain free access to the labor market after one year. Czech residence permits will be granted to their family members, and compulsory insurance of underage children with long residence permits will be introduced.

The bill also cancels the financial subsidy to asylum seekers who have accommodation outside asylum facilities.

The government proposes to discuss the bill in the lower house security committee, with the deadline set at one month instead of the usual two.

In support of the bill, ANO shadow interior minister Jana Mrackova Vildumetzova stated that punishment for people smugglers and smuggling gangs needs to be tightened. The legislation is expected to make the crackdown on organized migration more effective by providing stricter sanctions against people smugglers, while easing the process of stay and employment for selected groups of foreigners, which is expected to attract skilled foreign workers to the country.

The proposed amendment to the asylum law is in line with the EU directive to facilitate the integration of legally residing migrants, which aims to create better conditions for migrants to work and study in EU countries.

Article by Prague Forum