Globalisation in one Continent – Mobility for the benefit of all? EURES Mobility Conference

1. Globalisation in one Continent – Mobility for the benefit of all? EURES Mobility Conference Reykjavik June 22, 2007 Kevin Quinn Manager International Employment Services

2. EURES Mobility Conference • Kevin Quinn, Manager –International Employment Services • Responsible for;- • International Recruitment • Information for migrant workers • Policy in relation to the International Labour Market

3. EURES Mobility Conference • How we are where we are? • What was FAS response? • What is the response from ‘sending Countries’? • What more can be done?

4. EURES Mobility Conference How we are where we are EU Unemployment Rates 2005

5. EURES Mobility Conference Irish Economic Facts • GDP Growth (2006) 5.2% • GDP per Capita (2006) €39,018 ($52,000) • Irish GDP per Capita as % of EU 139% • Inflation (2006) 4.0% • Current Account Deficit (2006) 3.5% of GDP • Population (2006) 4.2 million • Average Full Time Wage (2006) €727 • National Minimum Wage (Jan 2007) €8.30 per hour • Weekly Unemployment All. (Jan 2007) €185.80 • Adult Dependent (Jan 2007) €123.30

6. EURES Mobility Conference • Jobless growth during the 1980s • Huge Economic Growth during the 1990s • 8.6% Average growth in GDP between 1995-2002 • 12% Growth in GDP in 2000 • Another 5% in 2005

7. EURES Mobility Conference • Large labour and skills shortages • Attractive wages and salaries • Welcoming attitude • Employers positive perception • Cheap flights

15. EURES Mobility Conference • Challenges: Irish Labour Market; • Labour Shortages; • Optimistic scenario- 50,000 shortage of all workers • Pessimistic Scenario- 70,000 shortage of all workers • 60% skilled and qualified

16. PPSN Allocations * week commencing 13th January, 2007

17. To Twenty-five….and then? How far east?

18. To Twenty-five….and then? How far east?

19. To Twenty-five….and then? How far east?

20. To Twenty-five….and then? 300k? How far east?

21. To Twenty-five….and then? 300k? How far east?

22. To Twenty-five….and then? 300k? How far east?

23. EURES Mobility Conference What was FAS response? • Accession of A10 Countries in 2004 • Open Borders – as UK • Numbers coming to Ireland - but % per capita 6 times greater in Ireland • FÁS Corporate Affairs & International Employment Services (EURES) Proposal

24. EURES Mobility Conference BASED ON OUR OWN EXPERIENCE • Solutions found through information • Campaign launched ‘ Don’t Go Before You Know’ • British and Irish PES worked together • Likewise Germany, Netherlands etc. • Shared ownership- problems and successes

25. EURES Mobility Conference Research showed that young migrants • Had little or no preparation before leaving • Arrived with little or no money • Had no accommodation arranged • Had no idea about how to find a job • One in three were approached within 24 hours to get involved with crime

26. EURES Mobility Conference • Little pre departure preparation • No idea how to find jobs • No accommodation arranged • Little or no resources • No personal networks • No English

27. EURES Mobility Conference • FAS were ‘swamped’ with clients who could not communicate • Illegal recruitment agencies were operating • Exploitation was a real possibility • Health and Safety issues were ignored or not understood

28. EURES Mobility Conference FAS response • Training for all staff in intercultural issues • Developing the Know Before You Go Campaign • Introduction in all public offices of simultaneous language interpretation • Developing ‘Information Days’ for Communities • Developing close working relationships with relevant Ministries and Agencies of ‘sending countries

29. EURES Mobility Conference FAS response Contd… • Providing training for key staff from other countries in all aspects of living and working in Ireland • Offering an efficient and cost effective recruitment service to Irish employers • Running a parallel public session on all aspects of living and working in Ireland, employment rights etc to all candidates

30. EURES Mobility Conference Key features • Migrants will return to own country • Lack of integration • Homesickness • Working below skills level • Major language problems

31. EURES Mobility Conference Know Before You Go Campaign • Leaflets in 12 languages (+ English) • DVD in five main country languages – Poland Lithuania, Latvia, Slovakia & Czech Republic) • Information on FÁS Website • Cost – initial production €600,000

32. EURES Mobility Conference • Attractive well produced (broadcast quality) • Aimed at young mobile jobseekers • Contains all relevant information in a logical sequence • Presented by ‘native’ young journalists based in Ireland

33. EURES Mobility Conference • Emigration a social/ political problem in many countries • Information nevertheless is still vital

34. EURES Mobility Conference • ‘Open days’ have been run and are planned • Lithuanian planning a series of information • Polish also but with recruitment aspect • FAS arranging Country specific events • More emphasis on retention than migration in A 8

35. EURES Mobility Conference What more can be done……. • Migrants grow the economy by 1 ½ % for every 1% increase in the labour force • If working at their skills level economy would grow by up to 3 ½% • Language barriers must be addressed • 24 hour help line made available • Greater efforts made to get information to potential migrants

36. EURES Mobility Conference • Employers need to integrate migrants at all levels • Communities need to be more proactive • Support should be provided at ‘official’ and NGO level to assist new arrivals • English language training should be provided

37. EURES Mobility Conference • ‘Sending’ countries must acknowledge the need for pre-departure information • Sending countries must give support to relevant NGOs (Ireland also) • Shared problem and shared opportunity

38. EURES Mobility Conference Thank you!