Migrants living in the community by far outstrip those who live in government-owned open centres at Ħal Far and Marsa, according to a new study.

Only 10 per cent said they would like to settle down in Malta for the long term

More than three-quarters of asylum seekers live in rented private residences with the largest communities found in Msida, Marsa, St Paul’s Bay, Gżira, Ħamrun and Birżebbuġa.

Even so, the single largest community of migrants lives at the Ħal Far open centre.

The survey on living conditions of migrants showed that almost 60 per cent of migrants were unemployed and of those who worked, most did so illegally.

Social researchers Charles Pace and Leonid McKay interviewed 836 refugees and migrants with international protection status for the survey. The survey excluded those asylum seekers whose application for protection was rejected.

Findings presented last month during a seminar organised by the Refugee Commissioner showed that migrants living in open centres were more likely to be unemployed.

While 74 per cent of migrants living in community centres had no job, the figure dropped to 52 per cent for those who lived in private accommodation. The unemployed included those who had on-and-off jobs.

In a side note, the survey authors noted that the six localities with the highest number of migrants were identified, in an unpublished post-graduate study by Mr McKay, as having concentrations of poverty.

A breakdown of the composition of migrant households showed that 71 per cent lived in private residences with two to four tenants.

The study found that in general, after finding accommodation, migrants had a good relationship with the landlord but less so with neighbours.

The vast majority of migrants with international protection moved out of the communal centres a year or more after gaining their status.

However, the study found that moving out was not always related to employment since in most cases, the interviewees left the open centres without a job.

Instability at the work place also increased the risk of homelessness, although only one per cent of migrants claimed they had nowhere to sleep.

The figures for employment make for some grim reading with the researchers noting that for many, illegal work was seen as the only way to earn something.

Only 42 per cent of migrants were employed and 57 per cent worked illegally. Most had a monthly wage of between €600 and €699, irrespective of whether they had a work permit or not.

A deeper analysis of the types of jobs migrants held showed that 66 per cent were employed in elementary jobs including cleaning, waste collection, agriculture and construction.

The second largest cohort was employed as tradesmen, particularly in the building sector. There were 23 migrants with a professional status in their home country, including nine teachers and a nurse, who ended up working as painters, welders, housekeepers and cleaners.

The researchers found that a majority of migrants wanted to integrate in society and most male migrants would like to be involved in football clubs.

The lack of stable employment – no fixed income – weighs heavily on integration as do the feeling of being unwelcome and the language barrier.

However, some were reluctant to integrate “simply because their aspirations are to leave the country” and relocate elsewhere. Indeed, only 10 per cent said they would like to settle down in Malta for the long term. The study found that 44 per cent of migrants had a basic knowledge of English with 39 per cent claiming to have intermediate knowledge of the language. Forty per cent claimed to have basic knowledge of Maltese.

But the bigger problem is the level of education that migrants possessed when they arrived in Malta.

A third had a primary level of education, 47 per cent a secondary level while 15 per cent had no formal education at all. Only two per cent of migrants had a post secondary education and three per cent a tertiary education.

While in Malta 17 per cent attended some form of training programme, mostly language and food handling courses, the report said.

The courses most followed were those provided at open centres and those offered by the Employment and Training Corporation and the General Workers’ Union.

A Somali’s story

The research was also based on qualitative interviews with groups of migrants. The following is the profile of a Somali, who received temporary protection status in 2008.

Communication: Low level of communication in English.

Work in Somalia: Storekeeper.

Qualifications from back home: No.

When leaving the open centre employed: Yes.

Employment: Farm.

Legal: No.

Working conditions: First year worked for three or four days a week, last two years was employed full-time.

Salary: First year between €500 and €600 a month, after between €600 and €750 a month.

Did you feel discriminated against: When it comes to salary, yes – sometimes paid even two weeks after other staff. After the first employment, worked on another farm for five months.

Future: Two days after the interview, will start a new job. Excitement because will be first legal employment as new employer asked for ETC work permit and social security number.

Advantage of working legally: The new employer informed him about paid vacation and sick leave.

Living conditions in percentages

77: live in private residences
74: of those living in open centres are without a job
52: of those living in rented accommodation are without a job
58: unemployed migrants
57: of working migrants are employed without permit
66: of those employed work in elementary jobs
44: have basic knowledge of English
40: have basic knowledge of Maltese
33: have a primary level of education
22: live in open centres
20: live in the community in four-tenant households
17: attended training courses in Malta
8: live in the community alone
1: claim to be homeless

ksansone@timesofmalta.com