Issues of migrants in Greece

Dear Minister,

With this letter, I am addressing you once again, regarding the huge problems faced by thousands of migrants in our country, in their efforts to live with dignity.

a) Problems due to the complexity of the procedures for issuing work permits/residence permits

Recently, there has been an increase in protests from migrants regarding failures observed in the implementation of the new legislation that regulates the conditions and requirements under which they can obtain or renew their residence and work permits. Through their organizations, migrants are sounding the alarm, arguing that the relevant legislation is becoming a dead letter, resulting, at best, in their suffering and, at worst, pushing them towards unlawful behavior.

A typical example arises from the obligation of migrants to submit the required documentation (insurance stamps or certified unemployment card) for a full twelve-month period in order to renew their work permit. This requirement causes problems for those migrants who became unemployed at some point during this period. Due to various delays, for which they are often not responsible, in many cases they are late in submitting their termination papers, risking the expiration of the two-month deadline and the inability to receive an unemployment card from OAED. In this way, they are unable to present the required documentation and their legal stay in Greece becomes impossible.

Similar problems arise in the case of any other issue that may cause them to be temporarily out of work (illness, family problems). Finally, significant problems arise due to certain weaknesses in cooperation with the social security funds. Specifically, the requirement to submit the stamps for the current month – which is required by the Prefectures only from migrants – is practically impossible and results in confusion and tensions.

Based on the aforementioned problems, I would like to support the following requests of the migrants:

• Extension of the period during which their employability will be assessed, from twelve months to two years.It is completely understandable and legitimate for the Greek state to monitor the legality of migrants in the country, especially at regular intervals, in order to make the control more effective. However, in practice, it has become clear that the twelve-month period is an extremely short time frame for conducting the control, as it does not leave room for problems that can arise for anyone, and which are even more difficult for migrants to resolve, given that they are in a foreign country. Such difficulties are likely to push these people into illegality, causing far more problems for our society. On the contrary, if a sufficient time frame were given (for example, a period of two years), during which they would need to certify that they had worked for the majority of the time, then both the migrants could more easily gather the necessary documentation, and the relevant services would avoid congestion and the inconvenience that enrages both citizens and employees.

• Integration of the work permit and residence permit into a single, green card with dual functionality. In this way, the process would be simplified, while the municipalities and prefectures would not be burdened by the massive influx of migrants seeking to issue these permits. This particular request becomes even more reasonable when we consider that, in many cases, significant delays are observed between the issuance of the work permit and the residence permit, a situation that, by its nature, undermines the entire process.

• Rationalization of the involvement of IKA in the process of issuing work permits, especially for the self-employed. Migrants complain about the lack of cooperation between the Social Insurance Institute and other government or local authority services. It is necessary to strengthen IKA’s cooperation with these bodies, particularly with the Ministry of the Interior, in order to avoid the inconvenience that migrants face in our country, an inconvenience that ultimately harms the productivity of our economy.

The Community of Foreign Nationals in Greece, in a memorandum sent on June 30, 2003, to the Deputy Minister Mr. Lampros Papadimas, with reference number 478, addresses these problems, requesting their resolution. However, up until this moment, they have received absolutely no response or acknowledgment of their requests, a fact that has caused even greater frustration, as they perceive it as indifference on the part of the Administration towards their problems. I would, therefore, like to kindly ask you to take the necessary actions so that an official response is provided to their memorandum.

b) Exclusion of the children of undocumented migrants from education.

The public is shocked to learn through the press of the Ministry of the Interior’s insistence on implementing the unacceptable circular that stipulates that the enrollment of migrant children in schools will not be allowed unless their parents have obtained all the necessary legal documents. Both your initial reaction and the assurances to the contrary from the Minister of Education created hopes that the issue would not progress, especially since the Ombudsman also called for the withdrawal of the specific circular.

However, the recent response from the General Secretary, Mr. V. Valasopoulos, understandably raises questions, particularly with the tone he uses towards the respected institution of the Ombudsman, and creates concerns about the directions that the country’s migration policy is taking in practice. Greece is a country that has prioritized the protection of fundamental rights. The right to education applies to all, without exception, without conditions or prerequisites. This principle runs through the spirit and letter of our Constitution, which is built on the values of humanism, and is also provided for in the International Convention on the Rights of the Child, which our country has signed.

However, beyond the country’s contractual obligation, ensuring education for all children is a prerequisite for social stability. The children of migrants, especially those who are undocumented, are at a much higher risk than others of being pushed into illegal activities if they are excluded from the educational process. Attending school not only helps their integration into Greek society, which will be necessary for them once their parents complete the legal residency procedures, but it also protects them from exploitation and prevents marginalization and delinquency.

One might wonder why it is preferable for these children to be on the streets, begging or working under serious risks, rather than being in a classroom. Can anyone seriously believe that excluding children from school is a rational way to punish their parents for “choosing” to be undocumented migrants?

b) Political rights of migrants – European Parliament Resolution, 15-1-2004

On January 15, the European Parliament approved a resolution in Strasbourg on the topic of migration, social integration, and employment of migrants. The resolution places particular emphasis on the need for the smooth integration of migrants into the European societies and host countries.

In this context, the resolution includes proposals aimed at recognizing political rights and citizenship for migrants living in the member states of the Union. Specifically, Article 24 acknowledges that an active policy for the integration of migrants should include (among other things) “ensuring the participation of migrants in the social, cultural, and political life” of their host country.

To achieve this goal, the resolution proposes the development of programs that will improve the initial reception conditions for migrants. Regarding the political integration of second- and third-generation migrants, it suggests revising the current regulations to align with the smooth integration objectives set by the resolution. Governments, including the Greek one, are therefore called upon to take specific actions to recognize political rights for migrants living in their territories, considering the significant improvement this development would bring both for the living conditions of migrants and for European societies as a whole.

The expansion of the recognition of political rights is an achievement of the last centuries, which has significantly contributed to the political stability of European societies. A characteristic example is the recognition of women’s right to vote and stand for election, which enriched the political life of modern societies. In contrast, deprivation of this right has always equated to exclusion from the most important status—the status of citizen. When a person knows that their voice cannot be heard, that their interests cannot be represented in the centers of power, it is natural for them to feel excluded from society and even to turn against it. Migrants, who contribute to our societies through their work, taxes, and social contributions, have the obligation to abide by the laws, but they should also be recognized as having the ability to influence the shaping of those laws.

Regarding citizenship, the European Parliament, in Article 33 of its resolution, welcomes the adoption of the concept of “civic citizenship” by the Commission’s communication, a concept that allows migrants to enjoy a range of economic, social, and political rights and obligations, such as the right to vote in local and European elections. The Parliament acknowledges the importance of civic citizenship in fostering a sense of “belonging” to a community, through which the smooth integration of migrants into European societies can be achieved.

Dear Minister,

It has now become clear at the European level that our societies have more to gain by embracing the multiculturalism that, by necessity, has characterized them in recent years—following the large influx of migrants—rather than resisting it. Political rights and citizenship are essential prerequisites for the smooth integration of migrants into the countries they have chosen to live in, countries where they are expected to continue living for many more years, if not forever.

In his recent speech before the plenary session of the European Parliament in Brussels, the United Nations Secretary-General, Mr. Kofi Annan, urged European states to adapt to the new reality that is shaping their societies as a result of the “inevitable population movements at the international level.” He emphasized that he looks forward to the day when Europe will be able to pride itself not only on the diversity that characterizes it in terms of its member states but also on the diversity within them. While acknowledging the importance of strengthening border protection measures, he noted that migration is a phenomenon that will not stop. However, we should not forget that the current causes of migration are the same as those that, a few decades ago, led thousands of Greeks and other Europeans to leave their homes to escape war, oppression, and poverty, in search of a better life in a new homeland.

Looking forward to your positive response, I am at your disposal for any clarification or collaboration.

With deep respect,

Anna Karamanou