Labour market integration of refugees the role of PES Malmö, Sweden 9-10 June, 2016 Draft Programme Version 27/05/2016_EN This event will most likely be recorded. With your participation, you automatically agree to be recorded (image and voice), published and/or streamed on www.wapes.org.
Introduction Europe is currently facing both great challenges and opportunities regarding migration and the labour market. Many countries are struggling with managing record numbers of asylum seekers. At the same time, population trends point to a decline in the workingage population in the coming decades. This suggests that a solution to both challenges lies in attracting and integrating refugees into the European labour market(s). Public Employment Services can be the link that alleviates a difficult situation by developing and putting into place measures to support refugees in accessing the labour market, which is one of the main contributions to successful integration. Some of the key issues for Public Employment Services are, and will be, to develop strategies and tools to help identify, recognise and utilise the skills and competences of refugees coming to Europe. What kind of training and education do we need to provide for those whose qualifications do not meet European labour market standards? What experiences and methods exist to support refugees regardless of gender, age and cultural background? How can Public Employment Services attract employers to actively cooperate? There are similarities shared by many European states, but also differences, not the least in labour market policies and the mandate for Public Employment Services. So in order to take on these challenging tasks, there is a need to exchange ideas, learn from experiences, and share best practices. Facilitating access to the labour market is one of the keys to successful integration. The focus of the workshop will hence be the role of Public Employment services in the current refugee crisis and to highlight and share successful methods and tools. For example; How do the Public Employment Services interact with other stakeholders (employers, municipalities, the education system ) in order to support the overall process of integration? What are the experiences with business start-ups - is supporting those a shortcut to successful integration? How has the refugee crisis already affected the national labour markets (increased informal economy, wage dumping and/or social dumping etc.?) The three main themes during this workshop will be: Challenges on a constantly changing labour market and managing the inflow of both low skilled and highly skilled workers. Identify and assess qualifications and competences Support to facilitate access to the labour market Labour market integration of refugees the role of PES is a forum to be hosted by the World Association of Public Employment Services (WAPES), Arbetsförmedlingen, AMS and Bundesagentur für Arbeit (the Public Employment Services in Sweden, Austria and Germany). This event will most likely be recorded. With your participation, you automatically agree to be recorded (image and voice), published and/or streamed on www.wapes.org.
Audience Decision makers and experts from public employment services that directly deal with the topic of labour market integration of refugees Representatives of international organisations dealing with the topic of labour market integration of refugees Stakeholders of the private sector, academia, local entities and non-profit organisations What is in it for the WAPES network? Exchange between decision makers and experts Raise awareness of the public expert in the subject and the responsibilities that it carries. Inspiration and useful tools Working languages: English Moderator: Ms Anki Frécon, Arbetsförmedlingen Venue Scandic Hotel Triangeln Triangeln 2 211 43 Malmö Phone: +46 40 693 47 00 Fax: +46 40 693 47 11 Email: triangeln@scandichotels.com http://www.scandichotels.com/hotels/sweden/malmo/triangeln/
Draft Programme The latest version of the programme will be available at www.wapes.org Wednesday 8 June 2016 13h00-18h00 WAPES European Meeting (only for European members on invitation) - see separate programme From 19h00 Welcome buffet dinner at the hotel Thursday 9 June 2016 08h15 Registration Opening of the Event: Welcome and practicalities Moderator: Ms Anki Frécon, Arbetsförmedlingen, Sweden 09h00 Mr Mikael Sjöberg, Director General, Arbetsförmedlingen-Swedish PES Ms Lenka Kint, Executive Secretary, WAPES WAPES Presidency
Key Note Address Moderator: Ms Anki Frécon, Arbetsförmedlingen, Sweden Facilitating the Entrance of Refugees into the Labour Market the role of PES 09h30 The unprecedented numbers of asylum seekers and refugees pose many integration challenges for host countries. Public Employment Services are a key player for integration by putting into place measures to support refugees in accessing the labour market. What is the impact of refugees on the host-country labour market - and what are the challenges for Public Employment Services in the current situation? Mr Stefano Scarpetta, Director for Employment, Labour and Social Affairs at the OECD 10h30 Coffee and Tea Break Panel Discussion: Moderator: Mr Mattias Buvari, Regional Director, Arbetsförmedlingen, Sweden Challenges on the labour market and for the Public Employment Services 11h00 12h30 Countries in the European region are handling a large number of refugees. This affects the labour market and thus the Public Employment Services. This session will give you an overview of what the challenges look like and the role of PES in facing them. Ms Petra Draxl, Director, AMS, Austria Ms Marie-Kristine Vanbockestal, Director General, Le Forem, Belgium Mr Raimund Becker, Member of the Executive Board of Bundesagentur für Arbeit, Germany Mr Mikael Sjöberg, Director General, Arbetsförmedlingen, Sweden 12h30-13h30 Lunch
Plenary Session I: Moderator: Ms Anki Frécon, Arbetsförmedlingen, Sweden Systematic approaches to facilitate job matching 13h30-15h00 One of the key issues in a successful integration into the labour market is the ability to identify, assess and find ways to put into good use the competencies of refugees. This session highlight questions like What does identifying competences really mean? What is the role of PES in identifying competences and How can the results be used in matching? The Swedish Introduction Programme - Mr Mathias Wahlsten, Head of Unit, Arbetsförmedlingen, Sweden Ms Anja Block, Bundesagentur für Arbeit, Germany Mr Haakon Hertzberg, Head of Politics Departement of research and analysis, Norwegian Directorate of Labour and Welfare Breakout Sessions Session I Education, training and preparation the role of PES 15h00-17h00 (incl coffee break) In practice, nearly all new arrivals need some kind of preparation, education and/or training whether they are low or high skilled. What is the role of PES? And what are successful systems for preparation, education and training for refugees? Moderator: Ms Martina Maurer, Employment Expert, AMS Austria Fast Track A quicker introduction of newly arrived immigrants Ms Soledad Grafeuille, Arbetsförmedlingen Sweden Mr Çağatay Gökyay, Senior Employment Expert, ISKUR Turkey Speaker slot
Session II Skills assessment practical methods and tools This session will provide good practical examples of methods and tools for assessment, validation of skills and competencies 15h00-17h00 (incl coffee break) Moderator: Ms Rebeccah Kaufmann, Senior Administrative Officer, Arbetsförmedlingen, Sweden Check of competences Mr Kai Themel, Employment Expert, AMS Austria Skills assessment of refugees: Lessons from international conceptual work Ms Susanne Kraatz, Employment Expert, European Parliament Dr Müller, Bundesagentur für Arbeit, Germany Session III Cooperation with employers, civil society and other relevant actors Well-functioning cooperation with other actors is likely to be an important factor for a smooth integration into the labour of refugees. This session will provide insight in how such cooperation could look like. What are the results and lessons learned? 15h00-17h00 (incl coffee break) Moderator: Mr Dirk Richter, Employment expert, Bundesagentur für Arbeit, Germany Tripartite agreement on integration in the job market Mr Morten Binder, Director General, Styrelsen for Arbejdsmarked og Rekruttering Danish PES Cooperation for smooth integration into the labour market Ms Geneviève Galloy, Director, Le Forem International Organisation for Migration, Ms Geertrui, Sr. Regional Specialist on Labour Mobility and Human Development, International Organization for Migration (IOM) EON and integration of refugees - from the employers perspective Liselotte Andersson, Employer Branding and diversity manager, EON 18h00 23h00 (approx.) Cultural dinner off site Out-door guided tour by foot followed by dinner. Bus-transport will depart from the hotel entrance at 18.00. Dress code: Casual.
Friday 10 June 2016 Result of previous day workshops, ideas and methods to be brought back into our organisations 09h00-09h15 Moderator: Moderator: Ms Anki Frécon, Arbetsförmedlingen, Sweden Speaker break out session I Speaker break out session II Speaker break out session III Plenary session II Integration from the jobseeker s perspective" Experiences and examples from individuals and organisations Moderator: Anki Frécon, Arbetsförmedlingen, Sweden 09h15 Ahti Avikainen, Senior Adviser, Ministry of Employment and the Economy, Finland Karin Heri, Operations manager - Career Academy, Malmö FF football club A role in integration Yallatrappan - A work integration social enterprice, Therese Frykstrand, Operations Manager 10h30 Coffee break 11h00 Labour Market Integration of Refugees the way forward Moderator: Anki Frécon, Arbetsförmedlingen, Sweden Mrs. Emily Farchy, Migration specialist, Department of international migration of OECD 11h30 Closing Remarks 11h50 Introduction to the study visit (tbc) Mr Mattias Buvari, Regional Director, Arbetsförmedlingen, Sweden 12h00 Lunch
13h00 Departure, by foot, from the hotel for site visit. Site visit 13h00 16h00 Visit to Arbetsförmedlingen - Employment Office, Kungsgatan in Malmö The Swedish Introduction Programme for newly arrived immigrants in practice. 16h00 Departure, by foot, from site visit back to the hotel. 16h30 End of programme