Šajn: Obuka 100 Roma za vozače autobusa može povećati etničku distancu sa ostatkom stanovništva

The president of the Roma Party, Srđan Shajn, assessed today that although the training for 100 drivers in Belgrade, in which only members of the Roma community will participate, appears to be an example of good practice, it can actually contribute to the long-term increase of the ethnic distance between the Roma and the rest of the population. "The training for 100 bus drivers in Belgrade, in which only members of the Roma community will participate, is an example that can be interpreted as if

"It is not possible to create a division of labor in which the children of poor Belgraders, as well as Roma children, are directed in advance to certain jobs, such as street cleaning or bus driving, while others are pre-reserved positions in the administrations of state institutions or in elite educational institutions," believes Shajn. He added that the Roma Party appeals to consistently implement the policy of affirmative measures, stating that as a constitutional category, they do not only apply to Roma, but also to all social groups that are in a poor socioeconomic position. "We request the city authorities to provide additional funds in order to include at least 50 members of other socially vulnerable citizens of Belgrade who are not members of the Roma community in this training program and thus ensure inclusiveness," said Shajn. He also invited the commissioner for the protection of equality, Milan Antonijević, who attended the ceremony for the promotion of that project, to review the consequences of such a training model and assess whether the concept of separate training for 100 members of the Roma community for bus drivers represents a practice that is in accordance with international standards of non-discrimination and prohibition of segregation in education and training. "All those who, for the sake of getting closer to the interests of big capital, describe children from socially vulnerable groups, including Roma children, as a 'significant reservoir of labor', contribute to the narrative of economic reductionism. Such an approach reduces people primarily to their market function, which can be in conflict with the principles of human dignity, social equality and European values," said the president of the Roma Party.

Key points

• "It is not possible to create a division of labor in which the children of poor Belgraders, as well as Roma children, are directed in advance to certain jobs, such as street cleaning or bus driving…
• He added that the Roma Party appeals to consistently implement the policy of affirmative measures, stating that as a constitutional category, they do not only apply to Roma, but also to all social…
• "We request the city authorities to provide additional funds in order to include at least 50 members of other socially vulnerable citizens of Belgrade who are not members of the Roma community in t…
• He also invited the commissioner for the protection of equality, Milan Antonijević, who attended the ceremony for the promotion of that project, to review the consequences of such a training model…
• "All those who, for the sake of getting closer to the interests of big capital, describe children from socially vulnerable groups, including Roma children, as a 'significant reservoir of labor', co…