Slovenia
Existing analyses critically reflect some aspects of research and studies that have been carried out both on discrimination as well as managing diversity in Slovenia between 2007 and 2013. One such study finds the cause of the inability of organisations to adopt policies on managing diversity in lack of competences and skills associated with cultural sensibility (Brezigar 2015). Whereas workplaces are bound to become more and more diverse, the predominant approach towards diversity in workplaces in Slovenia tends to either dismiss cultural diversity as inconsequential or treat it as a nuisance that needs to be dealt with, thus failing to grasp the advantages which such diversity could bring.
In Slovenia, the concepts of social inclusion are not gender specific and therefore pertain to migrant men and women. Most laws and policies adopt a gender blind approach which results in migrant women’s specificities frequently remaining invisible and as such not highlighted in policy approaches that would facilitate integration. It is therefore mainly through family networks and with the help of friends, as well as NGOs and various (migrant or cultural) associations that migrant women reach social inclusion, or at the very least find some support when attempting to navigate the many different laws and official procedures. Despite some steps being made in recent years towards at least formally more approachable and simplified state procedures, it is still the NGOs and activists who take on the major role that should be performed by state institutions in terms of information and support to facilitate (social) integration.
Slovenia’s current approach affects public attitudes towards immigrants by encouraging the public to see immigrants as equals and potential citizens, but not as their neighbours. Instead they are viewed as foreigners. Policies that treat immigrants as foreigners lead more people to see immigrants as general threats and treat them in ways that harm integration. Under restrictive policies, the public experiences higher levels of xenophobia and Islamophobia and lower levels of social trust, which leads them to fewer instances of contact and positive experiences with immigrants.
To end this chapter, we make available to students the following success story starring a migrant woman in Slovenia and entitled “Overcoming the bureaucratic obstacles, poor information flow and health care issues” accessible at Welcome to VIW project (pixel-online.org) This success story illustrates the problem with getting the correct and quick information pertaining to social inclusion and other forms of integration.
References
Brezigar, S. (2015). Critical reflections on managing cultural diversity in workplaces in Slovenia. Andragoška spoznanja, 21(4), 69–82. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.4312/as.21.4.69-82.
EWSI – European Website on Integration: Slovenia. Brussels: Migration Policy Group. Available at: Governance of migrant integration in Slovenia | European Website on Integration (europa.eu)
The European Website on Integration (EWSI) is an initiative of the European Commission and falls under the responsibility of the Directorate-General Home Affairs and Migration. The website is the only EU-wide source bringing up-to-date information and good practices on migrant integration for policy makers and practitioners.
MIPEX – Migrant Integration Policy Index: Slovenia. 2020. Brussels: Migration Policy Group. Available at: Slovenia | MIPEX 2020
The Migrant Integration Policy Index (MIPEX) interactive website is a unique tool which measures policies to integrate migrants in countries across six continents, including all EU Member States (including the UK), other European countries (Albania, Iceland, North Macedonia, Moldova, Norway, Serbia, Switzerland, Russia, Turkey and Ukraine), Asian countries (China, India, Indonesia, Israel, Japan, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, United Arab Emirates), North American countries (Canada, Mexico and US), South American countries (Argentina, Brazil, Chile), South Africa, and Australia and New Zealand in Oceania. Policy indicators have been developed to create a rich, multi-dimensional picture of migrants’ opportunities to participate in society. Specific indicators are available for Slovenia.