Additionally, the amendment should allow quotas on economic migrants. Interior Minister Jan Hamáček said it would make the transfer process of convicted foreigners faster. Now it takes more than two years and there have usually been around 400 criminal proceedings in the past two years.
The proposed integration courses are supposed to help foreigners to better orientate in the new environment, introduce them to their rights and duties and local customs together with fundamental values of the Czech Republic and the EU. Courses should take place in the Centers for the Support of the Integration of Foreigners which has an office in every region except Central Bohemia.
Every foreigner would be required to pass the test within one year from their arrival into the country. It involves foreigners coming to the Czech Republic for work or studies. Opposition MP Marek Benda criticized the proposal as he doesn’t see a reason why there is a test for hygiene habits of someone from the same civilization.
Quotas on economic migrants should set a maximum amount of applications for a work-related residence permit that Czech embassies may accept. The government’s reasoning for the quotas point out the currently overloaded embassies. Overall, the amount of work permit applications tripled over the past few years.
