““WORK IS A BASIC WORK IS A BASIC HUMAN NEEDHUMAN NEED””

The unemployed/poor can be The unemployed/poor can be consider as “social groups in the consider as “social groups in the

weak sense of the term, being either weak sense of the term, being either a simple statistical grouping of a simple statistical grouping of

individuals with similar individuals with similar characteristics or a grouping of ideal characteristics or a grouping of ideal

typical social ‘figures’ used to typical social ‘figures’ used to describe the victims of a particular describe the victims of a particular micro- and macro - social exclusion micro- and macro - social exclusion

process”(Strobel, 1996:181).process”(Strobel, 1996:181).

the unemployed /poor as a social the unemployed /poor as a social category or even as a social class category or even as a social class

(“underclass”) in the strong (“underclass”) in the strong sense of this termsense of this term

UNEMPLOYMENT AND UNEMPLOYMENT AND DISCRIMINATION AND DISCRIMINATION AND

OPPRESSION OPPRESSION IN POLAND AND HUNGARYIN POLAND AND HUNGARY

In Poland the unemployment In Poland the unemployment

level at the moment is 18% level at the moment is 18% In Hungary is about 7 %In Hungary is about 7 %

Unemployment is making an Unemployment is making an influence on lives of single influence on lives of single

people, families and people, families and communities.communities.

Unemployment makes it difficult for the Unemployment makes it difficult for the

family to family to realize its economical functionrealize its economical function,, Polish research shows, that Polish research shows, that almost all of the almost all of the

families of unemployed, don`t get the families of unemployed, don`t get the income at the level of social minimum, and income at the level of social minimum, and certain part of them lives on the edge of certain part of them lives on the edge of poverty.poverty.

Also in Also in HungaryHungary situation of unemployed is situation of unemployed is difficult with regard for lack of money.difficult with regard for lack of money.

What part is the state playing What part is the state playing in the mechanics of creating in the mechanics of creating

poverty of unemployed? poverty of unemployed?

It can be said, that the low income level and It can be said, that the low income level and economical regulations still occures as a economical regulations still occures as a system of national rules. Formally free of system of national rules. Formally free of charge education, health care and housing charge education, health care and housing subsidies make people dependent from the subsidies make people dependent from the state. The situation of low income, that is state. The situation of low income, that is guaranteed by the authorities are acumulating. guaranteed by the authorities are acumulating. That is what causes the structural poverty, That is what causes the structural poverty, created by a created by a combinationcombination of: low income – low of: low income – low standard of lifestandard of life – vegetation guaranteed by the – vegetation guaranteed by the state – subculture of poverty. state – subculture of poverty.

Long-term Long-term unemployment destroys unemployment destroys

human capitalhuman capital

Financial degradation Financial degradation influences realization of influences realization of

the caring and upbringing the caring and upbringing function of Polish and function of Polish and

Hungarian familyHungarian family

Job loss changes the ways of looking Job loss changes the ways of looking

after young children. In Poland (what after young children. In Poland (what is different in Hungary) is different in Hungary) children children often stop attending the nursery often stop attending the nursery schoolschool, because , because parents are unable parents are unable to pay for itto pay for it. .

The number of after school activities The number of after school activities (classes) has recently been minimalized. (classes) has recently been minimalized. At the same time in both these countries At the same time in both these countries most of the cultural and educational most of the cultural and educational institutions have become comercialized. institutions have become comercialized. Because of those circumstanses Because of those circumstanses the most the most of those important institutions is out of of those important institutions is out of reach of those who can not afford to reach of those who can not afford to pay for their services.pay for their services.

It`s noticeable in many unemployed It`s noticeable in many unemployed

Polish and Hungarian famPolish and Hungarian famiilies that lies that educational aspirations of the educational aspirations of the children are becoming lowerchildren are becoming lower, , mainly because of the financial mainly because of the financial insecurity the live in. insecurity the live in.

The The emotional and emotional and expressional functionexpressional function is is very important for every very important for every

family and it is also being family and it is also being influenced by influenced by

unemployment, especially unemployment, especially the long-lasting one.the long-lasting one.

Unemployed Unemployed manman, especially when his , especially when his

wife is working – finds it difficult to cope wife is working – finds it difficult to cope with this new situationwith this new situation

The relations between The relations between parents and parents and childrenchildren are becoming worse in both are becoming worse in both these countries because parents are not these countries because parents are not able to meet all the children`s able to meet all the children`s expectationsexpectations

Socializing function of Socializing function of the families of the families of

unemployed is upset and unemployed is upset and limited in Poland and limited in Poland and

HungaryHungary

Poverty, conflicts and tension – Poverty, conflicts and tension – don`t don`t create the right atmosphere for the create the right atmosphere for the children`s development, enjoying children`s development, enjoying hobbies, creating the right system of hobbies, creating the right system of prioriteis and moral standards, prioriteis and moral standards, patterns and norm of behaviour and patterns and norm of behaviour and neither for introduction to the cultural neither for introduction to the cultural lifelife

Unemployment which causes Unemployment which causes poverty in the family is connected poverty in the family is connected

with the issue of with the issue of inheriting the inheriting the povertypoverty and and transmission life transmission life

patternspatterns. This phenomenon appears . This phenomenon appears in Poland and also in Hungary.in Poland and also in Hungary.

What is more, the children are being What is more, the children are being

stigmatisedstigmatised by their peers, and by their peers, and considered as worse than the othersconsidered as worse than the others

A phenomenon called cultural poverty A phenomenon called cultural poverty which is caused by the fact the poor which is caused by the fact the poor children are children are not attending any social not attending any social or cultural eventsor cultural events

Polish and Hungarian Polish and Hungarian unemployed and poor people unemployed and poor people are being excluded from the are being excluded from the social and cultural life, they social and cultural life, they are being put on the dregs of are being put on the dregs of

society and there is also a society and there is also a strong stigma attached to strong stigma attached to

that.that.