Description
The overall objective of the project was to facilitate the integration of disadvantaged people and Ukrainian refugees into the Polish labour market, through strengthened social dialogue and support tools for refugees. The project was implemented in the Lublin region where unemployment is higher than the average in Poland, and which also welcomed a high number of refugees given the close distance to the Ukrainian border.
The project focused both on capacity-building of social partners to take a more active role in the development of active labour market policies (ALMP), in cooperation with local authorities, but the project also offered support to Ukrainian refugees to find jobs. The project built on a previous project on ALMP measures for young people, and continued to learn from Norwegian experience in this field through a continued partnership with NHO.
The following activities were carried out:
- 11 monthly meetings of expert groups and development of recommendations on ALMP measures, including 40 participants and a key-note speaker in each meeting which focused on the different disadvantaged groups, followed by a summary meeting at the end, resulting in a summary report and recommendations
- Produced and broadcasted a reportage about solutions for refugees in Norway.
- Campaign in press, internet, social media
- 2-days Conference for 40 participants for social partners, public authorities, media.
- Adapted internet portal for the usage of Ukrainians who are looking for a job in Poland, including material in Ukrainian
Summary of project results
The project contributed to the reduction in unemployment of various disadvantaged groups, including refugees. It addressed the challenges related to the employment of disadvantaged groups which is currently an important issue in Poland, given the high number of refugees from Ukraine. The fact that the Lublin Province is situated close to the Ukrainian border, shows the importance of the issue. On the other hand, employers have to face the outflow of well-qualified labour from the region. Thus, the project contributed to build awareness and capacity on the crucial issue of refugees and disadvantaged groups and worked on Active Labour Market Policy (ALMP) measures which facilitate employement of these groups in order to strenghten socio-economical development of the area.
11 meetings of expert groups to work out recommendations on ALMP measures, involving a total of 145 participants: experts on labour market, social partners, employers and employees. Each meeting was dedicated to one disadvantaged group: women (especially mothers of children under 6years,single mothers, refugees), unemployed aged 50+, young people, refugees, migrants and foreigners, and long-term unemployed.
Dissemination of good practices through the production and broadcast of a reportage about solutions for refugees in Norway, which was broadcasted twice on TV and on the internet (YouTube : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=529UqSIhBgA&t=645s). A campaign in media incl. social media also disseminated the reportage.
Promotion and adaptation of the internet portal, including the preparation of a video spot. The internet portal has been adapted for the usage of Ukrainians who are looking for a job in Poland, especially in Lublin Province, and employers who are willing to employ Ukrainians. However, despite the widespread promotion, it was not easy to receive offers and gain the interest of Ukrainian refugees as potential users.
The project contributed to enhancing the quality of decent work and the access to employment in Poland. Although the situation on the job market in Poland has improved in the last decade due to decline of unemployment rate and its positive consequences for employees, Poland still has much to do in the area of decent work and access to employmnet. The unemployment rate in the Lublin region (8%) is higher than the average in Poland (5,3%). This influence the situation of workers and employers in the region. The workers are often low-paid and under stress of becoming unemployed, while the employers have to face the outflow of well-qualified labour.
The project also contributed to building trust and improve social dialogue. The project promoter organised training for entrepreneurs and organisation of employers, which they considered a milestone in building mutual trust between employees and employers, but also between employers in the local environment and public institutions such as Employment Offices and public authorities, having a long lasting impact. Furthermore, the project contributed to the development of ALMP measures with the involvement of social partners and implemented information campaign and dissemination of good practices aiming at faciliating access to employment. During the training activities, experts shared their knowledge and worked out solutions and ways of dealing with regional job market challenges, in light of the inflow of Ukrainian refugees.
Summary of bilateral results
The partnership with the Confederation of Norwegian Enterprise (NHO) included sharing of good practices and Norwegian experience in this area, and strenghtened the relation between the two organisations. Cooperation included consultations of the script for the reportage about refugees in Norway, as well as organizing interviews with NHO’s experts for the reportage .