~ROMA~ Disadvantaged Minority in Transitional Romania Valentina Mara Social Policy Fall 2003.

~ROMA~~ROMA~Disadvantaged Minority in Disadvantaged Minority in

Transitional RomaniaTransitional Romania

Valentina MaraValentina MaraSocial PolicySocial Policy

Fall 2003Fall 2003

Who are the Roma?Who are the Roma?Historical backgroundHistorical background No historical homelandNo historical homeland Migratory population, coming through Persia Migratory population, coming through Persia

and Caucasus, Byzantine Empire and Caucasus, Byzantine Empire Settle in Central and Easter Europe, during:Settle in Central and Easter Europe, during:

Austro-Hungarian Empire, andAustro-Hungarian Empire, and Communist periodCommunist period

Estimated 7-9 mill. Roma cross EuropeEstimated 7-9 mill. Roma cross Europe Diversity Diversity

- traditions (clothes, religion), - traditions (clothes, religion), - languages (vary between groups), - languages (vary between groups), - profession (metalworkers, armaments, music)- profession (metalworkers, armaments, music)

Prejudice and persecutionPrejudice and persecution XV century – slaves on Romanian territoryXV century – slaves on Romanian territory Late XVIII century - Habsburg policies- Late XVIII century - Habsburg policies-

eliminate Roma lifestyle, encourage eliminate Roma lifestyle, encourage assimilationassimilation

Ottoman Empire – more relaxed policies, free Ottoman Empire – more relaxed policies, free movement across bordermovement across border

Nazi period – extermination – treatment similar Nazi period – extermination – treatment similar with the Jewswith the Jews

Socialist period – policies of socio-Socialist period – policies of socio-economic integrationeconomic integration

Transition – increase in poverty and Transition – increase in poverty and discriminationdiscrimination

ROMA ~ Disadvantaged Minority in Transitional RomaniaROMA ~ Disadvantaged Minority in Transitional Romania

ROMA ~ Disadvantaged Minority in Transitional RomaniaROMA ~ Disadvantaged Minority in Transitional Romania

Roma History in Romania

Before communism Communism 1960-1989 After Revolution 1990 - present

Policies of Exclusion All equal, all poorPolicies of assimilation

Discrimination and mass povertyPolicies of Exclusion, followed by

Policies of Integration

Map of RomaniaMap of Romania

Roma present life in RomaniaRoma present life in Romania

DemographyDemography Romania (535,250 Roma~ 2.5% Romania (535,250 Roma~ 2.5%

according to 2002 Census) is believed according to 2002 Census) is believed to have about ~10%(2.150.000)to have about ~10%(2.150.000)

Number of Children per Roma Household

in Romania

Source: UNDP/ILO regional survey

3.6%

9.7%

45.3%

30.7%

10.8%

over 8 childrens

6 to 8 childrens

3 to 5 childrens

1 to 2 childrens

No childrens

Age of the women at the first birth


5042363331292725232119171513

Per

cent

16

14

12

10

8

6

4

2

0


Education and Socio Economic StatusEducation and Socio Economic Status

Socio-economic status of Roma

in Romania

2.7%

53.4%

9.7%

17.3%

.2%

.5%

16.0%

Other inactive

Unemployed

Retired

Housekeeping

Maternity leave

Student

Employed

Education Attainment for Roma minority

in Romania


6.4%

15.9%

31.7%

46.1%

Secondary and higher

Incomplete secondary

Primary

Incomplete primary a


Labor marketLabor market

- Work more in informal economy; High Unemployment in formal economy, - Work more in informal economy; High Unemployment in formal economy, because of lake of skillsbecause of lake of skillsThey generally report that are the last hired, and first fired; They generally report that are the last hired, and first fired;

- Difficulties in finding a job- Difficulties in finding a jobEthnic ground 53% Ethnic ground 53%

Economic depression in the country 61%Economic depression in the country 61%

Insufficient qualifications 40.3%Insufficient qualifications 40.3%

Lake of luck 36.5%Lake of luck 36.5%


HealthHealth

- low or no access to education- low or no access to education Sources of incomeSources of income


Social Protection ProgramsSocial Protection Programs Overall, 87% of the population is covered by on of the social protection Overall, 87% of the population is covered by on of the social protection

transfers, directly or indirectlytransfers, directly or indirectly

Social Insurance SystemSocial Insurance System

Social Assistance SystemSocial Assistance System

Interest Groups that Demanded Policy ImplementationInterest Groups that Demanded Policy Implementation

Increase in povertyIncrease in poverty Human Rights International OrganizationsHuman Rights International Organizations

World BankWorld Bank UNUN European UnionEuropean Union

Labor MarketLabor Market

EmploymentEmployment UnemploymentUnemployment

Social Protection BenefitsSocial Protection Benefits

1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002

Social insurance/contrubutory benefits 48.90 46.5 46.1 49.4 51.6 51.4 52.6 51.3

pension - length of service 23.90 24.4 25 25.7 26.5 27.6 29 29.2

pension - disability 5.6 5.7 6 6.8 6.8 7.1 8.6 9

pension - survivor 5.2 5.4 5.4 5.6 5.9 6 6.4 6.4

pension - farmer 12.1 11.7 11.5 11.8 11.6 11.8 12.1 11.9

pension - war veterans 0.5 0.4 0.5 0.4 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.3

pension - social assistance 1 1.1 0.6 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2

unemployment benefit 11.8 7.5 7.4 10 12.3 10.9 9 7

child care leave 1.6 1.1 1.1 1.4 1.3 1 1 0.8

Social assistance/non-contrubutory benefits 54.1 52.6 62.5 56.5 56.4 56.5 56.8 57.9

child allowance 52.4 50.9 53.6 54.8 55 54.9 55.1 55.5

scholarship 1.2 0.9 0.8 0.7 0.5 0.8 0.7 0.6

support for people with disabilities 1.6 1.8 2.2 2.1 1.9 2 2.2 2.2

Social Aid (MIG in 2002) 0.7 0.5 0.4 0.5 0.5 3.9

other social assistance benefits(MIG 95, 96) 0.9 1.2 14 1 0.6 0.6 0.8 0.7

Other non-contrubutory benefits 3.6 3.4 3 3.2 2.8 2.5 2.6 2.4

allowance for war veterans 3.4 3.3 2.8 3.1 2.7 2.4 2.3 2.2

allowance for victims with political persecution 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.1 0.3 0.2

Total Social Protection 83.3 81.5 85.2 85.5 86.1 85.9 87 86.8

Conclusions and Policy implicationConclusions and Policy implication

Measures to increasing the educational attainmentMeasures to increasing the educational attainment reduce barriers for keeping children from starting schoolreduce barriers for keeping children from starting school addressing the language constraint – exp. Programs as Head Startaddressing the language constraint – exp. Programs as Head Start training the teachers (including Roma teachers)training the teachers (including Roma teachers) frequent non-announced evaluation of the teachersfrequent non-announced evaluation of the teachers increasing pre-school attendanceincreasing pre-school attendance facilitating secondary school attendancefacilitating secondary school attendance encourage superior education - exp. Programs as Affirmative Actionencourage superior education - exp. Programs as Affirmative Action

The shape of Social ReactionThe shape of Social Reaction reduce barriers for keeping children from starting schoolreduce barriers for keeping children from starting school

Government Education Initiative Targeting RomaGovernment Education Initiative Targeting Roma

““Affirmative Action” programAffirmative Action” program

Initiated in 2000 by Ministry of EducationInitiated in 2000 by Ministry of Education

- provides limited number of places for Roma in high school, vocational school, - provides limited number of places for Roma in high school, vocational school, teacher training programs and universitiesteacher training programs and universities

Second Chance ProjectSecond Chance Project

Initiated in 2001 by Ministry of Education and Research and Center for Education 2000+Initiated in 2001 by Ministry of Education and Research and Center for Education 2000+

- provides opportunities for education and additional vocational training for drop-- provides opportunities for education and additional vocational training for drop-outs, age 14 to 24 outs, age 14 to 24 - 3.5 years program- 3.5 years program

Access to Education for All Disadvantaged Groups, with special focus on Access to Education for All Disadvantaged Groups, with special focus on Roma CommunitiesRoma Communities

Initiated in 2002 by Ministry of Education and PHARE Program (for a period until 2004)Initiated in 2002 by Ministry of Education and PHARE Program (for a period until 2004)

~ROMA~ Disadvantaged Minority in Transitional Romania Valentina Mara Social Policy Fall 2003.

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