Description
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 results of a first project on capacity-building on decent work for trade unions at local and regional level. The project was both aimed at raising the awareness of refugees of their labour rights and support their integration into the labour market, but the project also raised the capacity of social partners on how to support the refugees. The project learned from Norwegian experience through the involement of a Norwegian expert in the various activities.
This project built on partnership with another local branch of the trade union OPZZ, but alson on cooperation and involvement of representatives from employers organisations and NGOs, and Ukrainian refugees.
The following activities were carried out:
- Communication and awareness-raising activities, including online articles in Ukrainian, website, and online networking event
- Capacity-building of 60 trade union representatives through 3 workshops on how to support Ukrainian refugees
- Manual with guidelines and recommendations on best practice for supporting refugees in the labour market
- E-learning tool for social partners based on the manual and additional content tobe disseminated to other trade unions and OPZZ affilitates
Summary of project results
The project aimed to address several key issues and challenges, primarily focusing on the integration of Ukrainian refugees into the Polish labour market. It sought to ensure that these refugees were aware of their labour rights and could successfully integrate into the workforce. Additionally, the project aimed to enhance the capacity of trade unions to support Ukrainian refugees and raise awareness among the refugees about their labour rights. Learning from Norwegian best practices was also a significant aspect of the project.
It included communication and awareness-raising efforts, such as publishing three online articles in Ukrainian and creating a project website. An online networking event was organised, bringing together representatives from social partners, refugees, and a Norwegian expert. Capacity-building workshops were conducted for trade union representatives, focusing on how to support Ukrainian refugees. A manual with guidelines and recommendations on best practices for supporting refugees in the labour market was developed and published in both Polish and Ukrainian. An e-learning tool for social partners was created, based on the manual and additional content, and widely disseminated within OPZZ regional councils and trade union organisations. The project concluded with a two-day conference on the role of social partners in shaping decent working conditions for refugees and migrants, attended by participants from various organisations.
It enhanced the implementation of the decent work agenda by raising awareness among Ukrainian refugees about their labour rights and improving the capacity of trade union representatives to support them. The project also fostered better cooperation between social partners, employers, NGOs, and Ukrainian refugees, facilitating access to employment. This increased awareness of decent work issues among social partners and authorities. The primary beneficiaries of the project were Ukrainian refugees in Poland, who gained better access to employment and support, and trade union representatives, who received training and resources to better support refugees. Social partners and employers also benefited from improved cooperation and understanding of decent work practices. These activities and outcomes collectively contributed to the project''s overall objective of enhancing decent work for Ukrainian refugees in the Polish labour market.