PRAGUE AND BUDAPEST ATTRACT FOREIGNERS
19 December 1996
International Migration Bulletin - No. 9
Foreigners residing in the capitals of the countries in transition in central Europe
increased dramatically in recent years according to the latest issue of the International Migration
Bulletin, published by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UN/ECE). By 1995,
approximately 9-11 per cent of the foreign population in Prague and 4-6 per cent of Budapests
population were foreigners, whereas their proportion in 1989 was negligible. These are mainly
central and eastern European migrants conducting unskilled labour intensive work and relatively
young professionals from North America and western Europe.
In addition to the 53,000 foreigners residing in Prague legally at the end of 1995, it is
estimated that the undocumented number included 20,000 Chinese; 20,000 Ukrainians;
20,000-30,000 North Americans; 5,000-10,000 west Europeans; and 10,000 transit migrants.
Chinese immigrants are generally employed in the growing restaurant trade - Chinese
restaurants in Prague increased from 5 in 1992, to 40 in 1994. Preliminary results of a survey
carried out in Prague in November and December 1995 on 70 Ukrainian workers, confirm that
most Ukrainian immigrants in Prague are young and came to Prague to find work. They chose
Prague because of its geographical proximity, often came to stay with friends or relatives, and
work as unskilled labourers in construction and industry. Most claim that they have better living
conditions than in Ukraine, at least half confessed to working illegally and stated that they
intended to return. Vietnamese migrants tend to be market traders who sell clothing and
electronics outside large department stores or in commuter belts.
The western migrant flow consists of North Americans, most of them young, who come
to work as consultants, lecturers, teachers of English, businessmen or staff of foreign
companies. West Europeans tend to work in foreign and international corporations. Other
westerners come as students or to take part in the thriving arts and theatre scene, which has
contributed to a growing sub-culture, that also includes bars, restaurants, newspapers and even
laundries. The stream of western immigrants have made a visible impression on Prague, and it
is predicted that relatively wealthy westerners living in the city centre may lead to its further
gentrification, a process that has already begun.
These two different immigrant groups share some characteristics, both tend to be
predominantly young and male but central European and Asian workers tend to occupy
unskilled or semiskilled positions whilst many westerners tend to be professionals. Estimates
of the total number of foreigners, including those that are registered, amount to some
120-150,000.
Estimates of undocumented foreigners in Budapest range from 40-100,000, and the
total number of immigrants in 1995, which includes legal foreign residents, could have been
as high as 150,000.
As in Prague, migrants from the central and eastern Europe and Asia engage mostly in
less qualified work in construction, manufacturing and market trading. The majority of these
migrants come from Transylvania. Some have legal work permits, others manage to secure a
job through illegal "people markets", well known to foreigners and local employers, a notable
one being on Moskva ter. Ethnic Hungarians with Romanian citizenship, speak Hungarian and
frequently work in construction, often creating joint ventures. They save money, and, having
completed a job return to Romania to support their family. At times, they combine this with the
buying of goods, which they then sell on their return to Romania.
Other highlights of the International Migration Bulletin, No. 9:
UNHCR estimates that some 1,050,000 refugees from Bosnia and Herzegovina were still
abroad in September 1996. In addition, there were an estimated 1,250,000 displaced
persons. Altogether by September 1996, between 220,000 and 250,000 displaced
persons and refugees had returned.
The decline in the number of asylum seekers in western Europe and North America
continued in 1996. The final total is likely to be around 400,000 compared to 825,000
in 1992.
Statistics on legal migrants indicate a steady flow of migrants to west European
countries and to North America, as well as a slight loss of population in most countries
of central and eastern Europe.
There is still a flow of migrants into the Russian Federation, albeit diminishing. Two-thirds of them are Russians from other CIS countries and the Baltic states.
Spain is becoming a country of immigration; over the past three years alone, the number
of legal foreigners has increased by almost 100,000. This increase is, however, coupled
with substantial success in reducing the numbers of illegal immigrants, which in 1996
were estimated to be in the order of only 50-65,000.
The United Kingdom has become an immigration country; net migration has added some
340,000 to its population during 1990-1994.
The Mediterranean Conference on Population, Migration and Development concluded
that better information on the causes and consequences of disequilibrium should be
forthcoming, and that a new partnership between the North and South Mediterranean
will be developed.
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The International Migration Bulletin is published twice a year by the Population Activities
Unit (PAU) of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UN/ECE).