80 experts discussed the consequences of migration for technical training and development

Transcription

1 PRESS RELEASE Conference on Migration as a Chance for Development. 80 experts discussed the consequences of migration for technical training and development Bonn, : For the third time in row experts from development organizations, churches, government, vocational training institutions and companies came to Don Bosco Mondo s Workshop Discussions in Bonn. About 80 people took part in discussing this year s topic of labor migration and its effects on the individual, society, and the economy. Can migration be seen as a chance for development or is it in the end just an indicator of its failure? How does a nation benefit developmentally if the skilled laborers educated through international aid migrate or if they are even poached by Western companies or governments? Participants discussed these and other questions extensively through expert talks, presentations, and roundtable discussions. Among the participants were development workers, instructors, political advisers, companies and decision makers from the BMZ, BMWi, GIZ, Federal Institute for Vocational Training, UNEVOC, International Institute for Vocational Training, EED, Misereor, AGEH, Porsche, Currenta, DIHK, business consultants, foundations as well as Don Bosco s international partners from Egypt, the Philippines, Switzerland, and Austria. from illegality and exploitation According to Alexander Vey (GIZ Political Adviser) labor migration is part of globalization. The Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development sees the phenomenon of skilled-labor migration mainly as a chance in form of a Triple-Win Situation for the migrant, their country of origin as well as their country of destination: qualified workers migrate, use their know-how in another position; send remittances to their home country and then rechannel their acquired expertise back to their home country upon the public development, to venture into investments, to pay for education and to act as a kind of insurance for rainy days. Migrants act as bridge builders and networkers; they are engaged in social projects in their home countries, transfer knowledge and experience thereby disburdening the job market. This understanding however overlooks somehow the migration stream of working non-academics. Dr. Maria Haarmann (MISEREOR) heavy which the migrating skilled workers, technicians, domestic workers and nurses often face., when vocational qualifications are not recognized forcing the people to work as unskilled laborers. By the time of their arrival and whilst adjusting to their new surroundings the migrants are exposed to various risks including exploitation and abuse due to lack of legal protection and and exploitation of the Catholic Justice and Peace Commission. A practical solution is demonstrated by Torsten Klavs (Porsche AG): Graduates of Don Bosco Manila are trained further in the company s own vocational training workshop to become service technicians. Graduates then get fairly remunerated employment with Porsche s Asia branches or its car dealers in Asia and Middle East. This successful approach is planned to be duplicated labor Mr. Hertz Pura, in Manila. For 15 years, he worked as a labor migrant for different companies igh personal strains: to leave during his wife s pregnancy, years of separation from his family and the adaptation to a foreign country were hard. Nevertheless through good technical training and education at Don Bosco Center Manila and the money he sent home, he was able to secure the financial situation of his young family and his daughter s education. He is now happy to be working in the Philippines and to pass on his knowledge and experience to others.

2 graduates The perspective of a church-based vocational training center was introduced by Fr. Renzo Leonarduzzi and Magued George of Don Bosco Cairo. Yearly, about 4000 young people are trained in short- and long term programs at the technical school. In the past there was the option for a portion of the graduates to work in neighboring countries as skilled workers and earn b migrate temporarily and invest the earned money Four years ago, on request of the Italian government, Don Bosco had prepared some hundreds of migrants to work in Italy. Now, a graduates want to remain in Egypt. The expectations of the youth are high and the tendency of Don Bosco graduates to migrate has sunk greatly in order to deter them from going away is freedom, d pointed out some results of the recent ILO survey on the current migration tendency of Egyptian youth. The conference made it clear that labor migration is a complex issue containing risks and chances, which exposes vocational training to new challenges: To acknowledge and certify the attained vocational qualifications - even for short-term courses - is becoming more and more important in a globalised jobmarket. English and computer skills are becoming must-have standards in vocational training. Repatriation programs are still too focused on academics and not enough on skilled workers and technicians. Alumni-Networks of the vocational training centers offer a chance for knowledge-transfer and contact with the home country. Politics is being called upon to improve the protection of migrant workers, assistance of family visits, visa requirements and assisting returning migrants, so that labor migration can really become - Info: For the Salesians of Don Bosco vocational training has been a core area of their activities, since the founding of their congregation in Today they train in 771 Vocational Training Centers more than 227,000 youth and young adults across the world. They give special attention to poor and disadvantaged children and youth-at-risk many of them migrants. Most of the training centers are in developing or emerging countries. Don Bosco Mondo supports this work for over 30 years. Info: Don Bosco Mondo e.v (until January 2012 Jugend Dritte Welt e.v.) supports disadvantaged children and youth in Africa, Asia, Latin-America and East-Europe in achieving an independent life, through comprehensive education and training. The Salesians of Don Bosco are our reliable partners. In more than 7000 children- and youth centers in over 130 countries the Salesians of Don Bosco impart knowledge, knowprofessional guidance. It teaches the youth not only to have faith in their own abilities but also values such creativity, team-spirit, tolerance and respect. With our new name we are underscoring our engagement for One World and global responsibility, which connects us in Germany with people of other nations.

3 Contact: Lukas Marx Don Bosco Mondo Sträßchensweg Bonn l.marx@don-bosco-mondo.de Phone: Find out more: We are pleased to provide the pictures in printable quality. Please just ask.

4 Moderated by Hans-Jürgen Dörrich (Mondo), Stefan Hummelsheim (GIZ Advisor to the Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development), Hertz Pura (Porsche Manila) and Dr. Hildegard Hagemann (Catholic Justice and Peace Commission) present their different personal experiences and assessment on labor migration. Experts from development organizations, churches, government, vocational training institutions and companies in dialogue

5 Torsten Klavs (Porsche) presenting the company s training concept for Porsche s Service Technicians, which offers Philippine Don Bosco graduates great job chances as qualified migrant workers in Asia and Middle East. Fr. Leonarduzzi und Magued George (Don Bosco Cairo) in discussion about the current situation of young people in Egypt.