bag arbeit e.V.

1. bag arbeit e.V. During the current crisis which are the stakes and answers of the social and solidarity-based economy? To try to decrease the crisis effects or to suggest a real alternative? bag arbeit e.V. ENSIE a.s.b.l – European Network of Social Integration Entersprises

2. bag arbeit e.V. bag arbeit is the National Association of Employment and Training Companies (Social Integration Enterprises) in Germany with over 400 members and 13 regional branches. We organise knowledge management and transfer for the sector and act as their representative. We believe that everyone should have the chance of work and education to enable a self-determined participation in society.

3. bag arbeit Structure of Employment & Training Companies in Germany Goals Methods Integration in Labour market Inclusion in real work processes Improvement of Employability Training on the job & development of skills & qualifications Individual personnel development Remove barriers

4. bag arbeit Structure of Employment & Training Companies in Germany Staff Founders Transitory Staff on Subsidised Wage Programme or Expenses Compensation Programme Private Initiatives Welfare Organisations & Charities Local Councils Permanent staff: Supervisors, Instructors, Trainers, Social Workers and Administration

5. ENSIE ENSIE a.s.b.l. European Network of Social Integration Enterprises Réseau Européen des Entreprises Sociales d’Insertion FIGURES IN 2008: • 14 national and regional networks of Social Integration Enterprises • 10 E.U. Member States open to all proposals for new members • 1,500 enterprises • 220,000 salaried people

6. ENSIE – The Objectives • To reinforce the power of the actors in economic social integration enterprises through the interchange among the members. 2. To stimulate cooperation and partnerships by promoting good practices, research results, new applications. 3. To organise the exchange of information on the national law and local policy among member organisations.

7. ENSIE – The Objectives • To represent the network and to promote all of its activities on all pertinent European levels. • To elaborate on the contributions and propositions in order to participate in the definition of a European policy against social exclusion. • To develop with other European networks active in the social economy a close and solid collaboration with the objective of obtaining synergies.

8. Examples of Activities of Social Integration Enterprises in Europe Recycling & Second Hand Gastronomy & Service Industries Garden & Landscaping Craftsmanship

9. Organising Change – What will be the effects of the crisis on integration? • Integration measures and training always runs anti-cyclical – when the crisis is there the most intervention happens • For training and integration this is a disadvantage – we need more focus on education in general in society – this must be a lesson learnt from the crisis

10. Organising Change – What will be the effects of the crisis on integration? • For our target group • In the course of the crisis more people will become unemployed, what could be the effects of this on our target group? • – those furthest from the labour market may not get included in integration measures as persons with more opportunities may occupy the measures to keep up their employabilty? Creaming Effect. • - qualifications for jobs will rise, so that after the crisis the entry level to the labour market will have risen ? Thresholds to Employment will rise • - chances to leave the benefit system will be reduced – more people living on benefit raising the poverty danger. More people will be on the poverty edge

11. Organising Change – What will be the effects of the crisis on integration? • For Social Integration Enterprises • What will be the effect on the companies? • - will companies in the general Economy try to prevent SIE’s from Competing and taking part in the market or will they cooperate more with them? Competition will rise • - the numbers of participants will rise however significantly. More people will need more resources. • - people will stay longer in the companies and more people will come to the companies and it may be necessary to think about changing the legal restrictions on wage subsidies for certain target groups and the time spent in the companies. Legislation might not be flexible enough.

12. Can SIE’s decrease the crisis effects or can they suggest a real alternative? • For Social Integration Enterprises • What will be the role of the companies in the crisis? • - provide alternative employment opportunities and organise integration • - this can decrease the “felt” effects for many people, keep them emplyable and offer them perspectives • - SIE’s are not however responsible for the crisis and cannot provide real alternatives to government plans – they need however to focus in governments plans and be the governments motor for integration during the crisis

13. Necessaryingredients for the future • The right ingredients • Permit Quality Workplaces for the target group by encouraging cooperation with general economy and not exclusion from the market • Integration & Training strategies for real markets and real people • Flexible schemes with room for innovation • Support measures to increase learning impact in SIE’s • Competency & Skill orientated individual development • Support to implementing quality management systems that really fit • Regionalisation of labour market policy • Flexibility in wage subvention acts – focus on individual disadvantage compensation rather than company subvention As a Result of the crisis this must all be strengthened and not weakened! Social integration must not become just a “measure”!

14. Changing perspectives The best way to integrate someone is to give them a job! www.bagarbeit.de www.ensie.org