Jan Husák of Romodrom: Czech Republic's "Lex Ukrajina V" will impact the Romani Ukrainians seeking temporary protection most heavily
The amended law on temporary protection for Ukrainians called "Lex Ukrajina V" has entered into force in the Czech Republic, and many nonprofits predict it will cause a massive rise in homelessness among the temporarily protected and leave them no choice but to return to their dangerous homeland. The change especially impacts the temporarily protected, including Romani Ukrainians who have fled discrimination and Russia's war on Ukraine.
How does Jan Husák, director of the foreign and humanitarian aid section of the Romodrom organization, see this situation? He has commented for news server Romea.cz, criticizing some aspects of the amended law while emphasizing its positive aspects as well.
” ‘Lex Ukrajina V’ introduces an essential transformation to the scope of support for temporarily protected persons. The norm will result in a transformation to the support provided to them for selected types of housing, to the amount of the humanitarian aid they receive, and to other related norms. It requires, for example, more duties of employers to register and report temporarily protected staff, it expands the data kept on such persons in the registry of the insured, and it limits the provision of free accommodation to 150 days after temporary protection is granted,” Husák said.
“An essential part of these transformations is considered contentious from the perspective of their impacts on the lives of temporarily protected persons who are particularly vulnerable, which is not a negligible proportion of them. They will critically especially impact Romani Ukrainians. The suspicion predominates that some of the amendments to the law will destroy any faith in its non-discriminatory nature,” Husák said.
Husák has not lost hope, though, as he also sees the amendment has some positive aspects to it. “We welcome, for example, the fact that financial aid can be sent directly to the owners of properties who decide to rent apartment units that have long been unoccupied to the temporarily protected,” Husák informed Romea.cz.
Romodrom is an organization that has long been involved in aiding Romani Ukrainians seeking temporary protection, and Husák stresses that Romodrom is prepared to aid these people during the difficult times that now await them. “We are prepared to negotiate for and implement all activities that will lead to the provision of aid and to overcome any possibly critical scenarios to be discussed within the framework of various platforms with our partners,” Husák said.
Sociologist Daniel Prokop on the amendment: This is a real failure
As of July, humanitarian aid will only be given to temporarily protected persons whose incomes are below the minimum for subsistence and who have documented their housing costs. The aid will be CZK 3000 [EUR 125] per month per person in a housing unit registered with the state and CZK 2400 [EUR 100] in other kinds of housing.
According to the Labor Ministry’s online calculator, a mother of two minor children who has been living for a year in emergency accommodation, earns the minimum wage and has CZK 5000 [EUR 210] in the bank will not be eligible for humanitarian aid for herself and her children. Even if her housing unit were registered with the state she would not be eligible.
A senior citizen aged 65 or older who has been living in the Czech Republic for one year in registered housing without an income who has CZK 10,000 [EUR 420] in the bank will not be eligible for support. However, if her bank savings totaled just CZK 5000 [EUR 210], she would be eligible for a Labor Office award of CZK 7860 [EUR 330] per month for housing and subsistence.
Sociologist Daniel Prokop has another commentary and example to give about the amendment. “Let’s say a single mother with two minor children makes CZK 20,000 [EUR 840] per month net and pays CZK 12,000 [EUR 500] for modest housing. If she is a Czech citizen, she would be entitled to a housing contribution worth CZK 6000 [EUR 250] per month and approximately CZK 3000 [EUR 125] in child supplements per month. In addition, she may have been or still is receiving parental benefits. A temporarily protected Ukrainian receives no support under those same conditions. This is a real failure,” he tweeted.
The amendment to the law had already been criticized by the Public Defender of Rights (the ombudsman), Stanislav Křeček. “I am concerned that the measures about to take effect will have unfortunate repercussions for tens of thousands of people who are already in quite serious social situations. Many of those arriving here are doing their best but are unable to earn enough to cover their basic necessities. There should be a support system here for them, just as there is for Czech citizens, to aid them with making it through this adverse time in their lives,” the ombudsman posted to the website of the Office of the Public Defender of Rights.
“Lex Ukrajina V” is the name of the amendment to Act No. 65/2022 Coll., which took effect on 1 July 2023. The law regulates the conditions for granting temporary protection to foreign nationals who are coming to the Czech Republic as a consequence of the armed conflict on the territory of Ukraine caused by the invasion of Russian Federation troops in 2022. Temporary protection is an authorization to reside on the territory of the Czech Republic for the purpose of being provided temporary protection on the territory of the Czech Republic as per the Council of the European Union decision establishing that a case of the mass influx of displaced persons from Ukraine is underway. The law also regulates housing provision, welfare benefits, health care services and access to education by temporarily protected persons.
Czech Government Human Rights Commissioner Klára Šimáčková Laurenčíková has also expressed her view of the law through social media, saying she perceives the justified concerns predominating among municipalities, Regional Authorities, the nonprofit sector, accommodation providers and the owners of apartment units. “The changes to the aid benefits and accommodation are a complex challenge for all affected parties,” the Human Rights Commissioner said, emphasizing that she has been holding many meetings since spring with stakeholders and looking for ways to do everything possible to reduce the risks within the intention of the law.
