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Description
The project contributed to raise awareness on decent work among Ukrainian refugees based on Norwegian practices
The overall objective of the project was to enhance decent work for Ukrainian refugees in the Polish labour market, building on Norwegian best practice and on the outcome of the first SIDA-project on decent work for migrant workers. The project both aimed at raising the awareness of refugees of their rights but also the risks of work-related crime, and to train them on decent work issues. In parallel, the project raised the capacity of social partners to deal with the flow of Ukrainian refugees, mainly women, into the labour market, by exchanging best practice with the Norwegian project partner LO and in close cooperation with a Polish NGO. The third axe of the project was direct legal support and advise given to refugees by two advisors, in addition to developed information material and training offered to refugees.
This project built on the ongoing project SIDA which aimed at enhancing decent work for migrant workers, while the second phase primarily focused on Ukrainian refugees, which was in line with the restricted call under the SDDW for Poland which encouraged projects facilitating the integration of Ukrainians into the labour market.
The following activities were carried out:
- Communication and awareness-raising campaign, including a brochure, videos, two online dissemination seminars, campaign in social media, and billboard campaign
- Capacity-building of trade unions to guarantee decent working conditions for Ukrainian refugees, including online seminar, analysis, working session on good practices, workshops on migration issues.
- Direct support for Ukrainian refugees, including two advisers and online training tool.
Summary of project results
The first SIDA project prepared trade unionists from OPZZ to act for and with migrant workers on the Polish labour market. It was based on Norwegian experience and practical experience of experts from the Polish Association for Legal Intervention (SIP). However, the flow of the Ukrainian refugees after February 24, 2022 changed the situation, and it became crucial to address actions towards Ukrainian refugees. It was important to reach out directly to the Ukrainian refugees with awareness raising campaign on decent work as the majority of this group was new to the Polish job market and, and in this regards, were prone to potential exploitation. OPZZ has in its structures the Inter-Enterprise Trade Union of Ukrainian Workers in Poland,
The overall objective of the project SIDA 2.0 was to enhance the implementation of the decent work agenda through a continued Partnership with LO and SIP and where the target group wasUkrainian refugees. The goals were addressed by focusing the project’s actions in two ways: by direct support to Ukrainian refugees and by improving trade unionists’ potential to address the problems connected with the flow of refugees from Ukraine.
More specifically, the project aimed at:
- raised awareness on decent work topics by implementation of awareness-raising campaign: brochures for Ukrainian refugees, videos supporting service point for Ukrainian refugees, organization of online dissemination seminars, billboard and social media campaign directed to Ukrainian refugees, achieved until the end of project implementation
- enhanced knowledge on the decent work issues through online focus group seminar to identify key risks that Ukrainian refugees are exposed to, working session in Poland: Nordic model in the context of support for refugees, workshops for trade unionists on migration and refugee issues, development of online training tool for Ukrainian refugees and the work of Legal Adviser and Decent Work and Migration Policy Adviser, accomplished in the lifetime of the project
- improved trade unionist’s potential to address the challenges connected with the flow of refugees from Ukraine regarding the decent work, achieved by means of workshops conducted in the project’s lifetime
The following activities were implemented:
Communication and awareness-raising campaign:
A brochure for Ukrainian refugees: “Be aware of your rights.” presenting the rights that Ukrainian refugees have in Poland in terms of social support, worker’s rights etc., Videos to support service point for Ukrainian refugees on topics like - Your rights in Poland - Don’t become a victim of work-related crime - Social and labour market integration – Effective trade union. Organization of online dissemination seminars. Publications addressed to the Ukrainian refugees. Campaign in social media addressed to trade unionists and Ukranian refugees. Billboard campaign in Warsaw (billboards placed in e.g. subway, bus stops, railway station) directed to Ukrainian refugees.
Competent trade union leaders - the guarantee of decent working conditions for Ukrainian refugees.
Online focus group seminar identifying key risks that Ukrainian refugees are exposed to on Polish labour market, with representatives of social partners, public authorities and NGOs working with Ukrainian refugees and the representatives of Ukrainian community in Poland. Report and needs analysis based on the findings from the focus group seminar. Working session in Poland on the Nordic model in the context of support for refugees. Workshops for trade unionists on migration issues
Direct support for Ukrainian refugees.
Continuation of work of OPZZ Decent Work and Migration Policy Adviser, cooperating with regional and local structures of OPZZ to support the refugees’ integration with the labour market and prevent any abuse against their workers’ rights. Appointment of the legal adviser by SIP responsible for supporting the refugees in labour-market related issues (in terms of decent working conditions, labour contracts, preventing social dumping from the legal point of view, conflict resolution, fighting work-related crime – any kind of legal support needed by Ukrainian refugees will be provided). Online training tool for Ukrainian refugees: the rights and obligations of refugees as workers. Training aimed to improve the understanding of Polish law and labour market, and strengthen the position of refugees on the labour market and decrease the risk of becoming a victim of social dumping and other work-related crime. The tool included user-friendly materials (presentations, info graphics, mini manuals, short video tutorial) and at least 1000 refugees were trained. The tool was a sustainable result of the project and active after project''s completion.
The project increased the number of workers having access to decent work arrangements, and the project activities decreased the inequalities in working conditions between local and migrant workers and contributed to more effective fight against work-related crime.
Summary of bilateral results
The bilateral cooperation between OPZZ and LO continued in the second phase of the SIDA project, and Norwegian best practice was an important part of both projects.