Understanding Over-Qualification Among Third-Country Nationals in Crete

Project co-financed under the European Integration Fund Dimitra Kampeli London, June 2012

Project co-financed under the European Integration Fund The objective of the Local diagnosis was not to undertake an academic level of research, but to follow a pragmatic approach in order to give sufficiently accurate answers to the main questions: What is the degree of the problem? (Severity) Why are third-country nationals over-qualified in the locality? (Cause).

Project co-financed under the European Integration Fund Three levels of analysis: a) the general labour market situation, b) the profile of third country nationals, focusing on the issue of over qualification and c) conclusions and recommendations for further exploitation in both transnational and local level.

Project co-financed under the European Integration Fund OVER-QUALIFICATION The term refers to the mismatch between skills / qualifications of an employee and the level of skill or education necessary for the job that person is doing. An alternative definition focusing more on the disparity between skill level and wages is also used in some of the literature. THIRD COUNTRY NATIONALS Any person who is not a citizen of the European Union within the meaning of Article 20(1) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union and who is not a person enjoying the Union right to freedom of movement, as defined in Article 2(5) of the Schengen Borders Code (European Migration Network). For the purpose of present report the term describes immigrants in Greece, originated for non EU countries, holding a valid residence permit.

Project co-financed under the European Integration Fund Source: Decentralized Administration of Crete - Department of Foreigners and Migration 53,3% Males 46,7% Females 23,4% 76,6%

Project co-financed under the European Integration Fund Published in The Economist Feb 28th 2008.

Project co-financed under the European Integration Fund The rapid increase of migrants in the area during the 1990’s originated from the need to cover an important lack of labour force in primary sector and in other “downgraded” job areas with low labour supply (for example builders, craftsmen, domestic workers). In many cases their wages remain very low, without any consolidation & insurance. Informal occupation has become synonym of economic immigrants, who usually select the path of unofficial employment in order to ensure a higher income.

Project co-financed under the European Integration Fund Primary sector The economic activity in Crete was based mainly on agriculture and livestock farming (primary sector) until the '70s. Nowadays, tourism in Crete is the most dynamic developing sector of the local economy, with relevant activities to be located in the majority of coastal district and less in urban centres, where all the administrative, educational, financing and figurative services (tertiary sector) of the Island are gathered. Secondary sector concerns mainly the food industry, closely related with rural products from the area but also the sectors of structural materials and plastic. All three sectors of local economy are directly connected and inter-depended. Secondary sector Tertiary sector

Project co-financed under the European Integration Fund Source: National Statistical Service of Greece Region of Crete (2012). Economic Facts. In: http://www.crete.gov.gr

Project co-financed under the European Integration Fund Concerning the key data on Education in Europe 2012 "tertiary education graduates integrate into the job market two times more quickly than people with lower qualifications. On average, it takes five months for tertiary education graduates to enter the job market, as opposed to 9.8 months for people with lower attainment levels." In this context, Dutch university graduates fare quite well. On average, it takes them only three months to find a job after graduation. Countries that have suffered particularly from the EU debt crisis show a mixed picture: in Greece (12.2 months), Italy (9.8 months) and Spain (7 months) graduates stay unemployed longer while Portugal (4.7) and Ireland (4.1) perform better than the EU average. Source: Eurydice and Eurostat (2012). Joint Research: Key data on Education in Europe 2012. In: http://eacea.ec.europa.eu/education/eurydice/.

Project co-financed under the European Integration Fund • Most immigrants have graduated primary or secondary education and there seems to be a percentage between 11-18%, which refers to third degree education graduates. • Second generation migrants with two immigrant parents presents higher rate of unemployment and minor rate of employment. • The majority of individuals that have been born abroad came to Greece in order to find a job. An important percentage of immigrants intend to stay in Greece permanently (46.6%) or for more than five years (23.4%). • The majority (60.1%) gave negative response as for the need to improve their Greek language skills). • The percentage of individuals that have tried to pursue a degree recognition is particularly low (2.9%) and only 1.2 percent managed to complete this procedure with success. • Only 9.9 percent of immigrants have made use of the available vocational services in Greece. National Statistical Service of Greece (2009). Press release: Special Research results on the occupational position of immigrants (first and second generation) inside the Greek labour market. In: http://www.statistics.gr.

Project co-financed under the European Integration Fund Why does immigrant over-qualification happen? • Τhe biggest barrier for overqualified immigrants in Greece is the language. • There are no permanent organized services in the country in order for the newcomers to be familiarized with language and culture of host country. • The degree recognition acquired in the country of origin is an extremely complex procedure. • Furthermore, in order to exercise specific professions in Greece prior authorization needs to be obtained, which means more obstacles for immigrants. • Discrimination and prejudice are existing phenomenon in Greek society (even for second generation immigrants). • Limitation of immigrants in using effectively the existing labour market networks. • The present economic crisis has completely reversed the more positive climate in favour of immigrants that was gradually established during the past years. • Only recently, Greece has proceeded with the establishment of the National Framework of Qualifications, which is still under organization.

Project co-financed under the European Integration Fund According to the Organization of Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) “labour market access is not measured solely by the yardstick of the unemployment rate, but is also assessed in terms of the match between qualifications and jobs. From this viewpoint, qualified immigrants encounter special difficulties in all OECD countries. This could be attributable to: • unobserved differences in the “value” of degrees or in intrinsic skills; • problems with the recognition of degrees acquired in the country of origin; • a lack of human and social capital specific to the host country (e.g. proficiency in the language); • the local labour market situation; and • various forms of discrimination.” Source: Dumont, J.C. and Monso, O. (2007). “Part II - Matching educational background and employment: a challenge for immigrants in host countries”. In: INTERNATIONAL MIGRATION OUTLOOK - SOPEMI 2007 EDITION: ISBN 978-92-64-03285-9.

Project co-financed under the European Integration Fund In November 2011, the General Secretariat of Population and Social Cohesion (Ministry of Internal) presented for public discussion the “National Strategy for Social Integration of Third Country Nationals 2012-2015”. Main goal remains the organization of a common framework for the co-ordination of European and national integration policies, together with the promotion of effectiveness, rationality and synergy of relevant actions, involving cost saving for national social policies. According to the presented text “significant challenge for the future of national integration policy constitutes the improvement of first and second generation immigrants’ access to better job placements offering higher salaries or in advanced specialisation positions, which cover all areas of national economy, via the recognition of qualifications, professional training, education etc. acquired abroad.” General Secretariat for Population and Social Cohesion (2011). National Strategy for Social Integration of Third Country Nationals 2012-2015. In: http://ete.ypes.gr.

Project co-financed under the European Integration Fund Multiple level approach • Building systems of cooperation between the involved stakeholders. • Improving and coordinating existing services for immigrants and employment. • Developing a local mechanism for recording third country nationals’ skills and knowledge, especially concerning newcomers and itsfinal result refers to gathered information’s matching with the existing labour demand in local market. • Improving information and awareness raising of over qualified third country nationals concerns: a) local employers, b) public servants, c) local politicians, d) general public. • Increasing supportive services for immigrants’ integration, especially concerning Greek language courses.

Project co-financed under the European Integration Fund • Local key Stakeholders Panels (PLS) have a vital role within the planning & implementation of actions in favour of overqualified third country nationals in the locality under study. In the framework of REALISE Project, PLS has specific purpose: • To better conceive policy and actions, by benefiting from the insight of those affected by and most concerned with such policies and actions. • To obtain their support (‘buy in’) for the policies and actions that will be pursued. • To obtain more support outside of the PLS, by advocating in the community. The idea is they become “multipliers of the message”, by campaigning for Realise Project in the area of Heraklion (formally or informally), raising awareness and disseminating. • To participate in undertaking the local diagnosis of severity and cause of over qualification, being the key info providers. • To participate in developing pilot local interventions because these interventions will be designed by and negotiated with the PLS. • To participate in developing long-term strategies to scale-up pilot interventions to policy level because PLS members have the power to influence policy.

Logical Framework Analysis Tool

Project co-financed under the European Integration Fund • Pilot Local Intervention in Heraklion • Heraklion LAG members in a series of meetings discusses and set (in 3 working groups): • Medium-Term Strategic Goal, • Direct aims, • Expected results • Indicators • Control Sources • Threats • Actions • Responsible partner/ actors • Tools • Resources needed

Project co-financed under the European Integration Fund • Pilot Local Intervention in Heraklion - • Medium Term Strategic Goal • To minimize the phenomenon of over qualification in our intervention area • To assist and improve the entrance of immigrants in the local labour market • To Improve equal opportunities for all citizens via networking • To improve the quality of life of our community (via more effective integration and social inclusion)

Project co-financed under the European Integration Fund • Pilot Local Intervention in Heraklion - • Aims & Objectives • To create “records or card of qualification” • To increase the percentage of immigrants’ degree recognition • To network all local service and support organisations for immigrants • To contribute towards the sensitization and mobilization of employers and general public

Project co-financed under the European Integration Fund • Pilot Local Intervention in Heraklion - Threats • Increase of racism and negative attitudes towards immigrants • Participation to the Greek parliament for the first time in its history extreme left political party with racist attitudes well-know for their actions against immigrants. • Economic Crisis- increase of unemployment • Non stable national policies on the immigration issue • Negative role of Media against immigration enhancing stereotypes • Lack of cooperation and synergies • Lack of organization and/or immigrants representatives participation • Lack of finding

Project co-financed under the European Integration Fund • Pilot Local Intervention Heraklion - Expected results • Better image of the immigrant communities • More attractive image of immigrant employees towards employers • More sensitized employers (plus general public) • Better access of immigrants to public or private services (utilising their obtained knowledge) • Better coordination, networking and synergies among local organisations and services • Contribution to the national/regional goals for social inclusion

Project co-financed under the European Integration Fund • Pilot Local Intervention Heraklion - All Interventions Discussed prior to prioritised selection process • Informative leaflet production for the participation to Greek language lessons • Informative leaflet production on the degree recognition and translation complex procedures • Cooperation schemes among organisations for the implementation and the diffusion of the informative material • Translation of existing leaflets and procedures to several languages in order to attract more immigrants. • Involvement of immigrants themselves (eg representatives) to the information dissemination

Project co-financed under the European Integration Fund • Pilot Local Intervention Heraklion - All Interventions Discussed prior to prioritised selection process (2) • “Familiarization” events among local community & immigrants • Social campaigns (printed or audiovisual) • Short film on the issue with real cases (story telling) • Conference/workshop on Human Rights agenda • Festival of Creative Expression – Anti-racism Festivals • Multicultural Educational schemes in primary/secondary schools

Project co-financed under the European Integration Fund • Pilot Local Intervention Heraklion - All Interventions Discussed prior to prioritised selection process (3) • Recording immigrants’ qualification (qualification card) • Recording the immigrants’ route in “past-present-future” • Combine qualification to local market supply via existing tools (eg Workfinder scheme of the Municipality of Heraklion) • Conducting surveys and further research on mapping organisations • Enhancing the power of new structure of “Immigration Integration Councils” • Creating structures similar to “entrance centres” focus on valid information diffusion and “social orientation schemes”

Project co-financed under the European Integration Fund • Pilot Local Intervention Heraklion - All Interventions Discussed prior to prioritised selection process (4) • Workshops, seminars, educational or vocational schemes • For public servants stimulating their attitudes to citizens originated from other countries • For media for their social responsibility and role in a multinational society • For immigrants on their professional development schemes (cv, interviews, rights etc) – both in groups and personalised • For immigrants and their representatives for social orientation issues

Project co-financed under the European Integration Fund • Selected Interventions • Combine immigrants’ qualification to local market supply via the existing tools of “Workfinder” scheme of the Municipality of Heraklion • Stage One: Recording Qualification via specific forms in the “Immigration Authority” for new-comers • Stage Twο: Conducting survey on the immigrants staying in the region via “Immigration Authority’s records (short telephone interview) • Stage Three: Analyse findings • Stage Four: Take authorization to include these data to the “Workfinder” system and automatism the procedure of matching supply to demand

Project co-financed under the European Integration Fund • Selected Interventions • 2. Workshops- vocational scheme • Conduct a workshop/vocational scheme program targeted to: • - public servants stimulating their attitudes to citizens originated from other countries • - media for their social responsibility and role in a multinational society • -immigrants on their professional development schemes (cv, interviews, rights etc) – both in groups and personalized • immigrants and their representatives for social orientation issues

Project co-financed under the European Integration Fund Selected Interventions 3. Degree recognition -Informative leaflet production on the degree recognition and translation of complex procedures -Cooperation schemes among organisations for the implementation and the diffusion of the informative material -Translation of existing leaflets and procedures to several languages in order to attract more immigrants. -Involvement of immigrants themselves (eg representatives) to the information dissemination

Project co-financed under the European Integration Fund Selected Interventions 4. Raising public awareness -Social campaigns (printed or audiovisual) -Short film on the issue with real cases (story telling) -Multicultural Educational schemes in primary/secondary schools Important note: For this set of activities budget modification is required within our budget (change of categories from staff expenses to externals)

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Understanding Over-Qualification Among Third-Country Nationals in Crete