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Valuing diversity: guidance for labour market integration of migrants

(activation and childcare support), recognition of qualifications, the reinforcement
of apprenticeships and work-based learning (for youth) and clear effort to
increase the social participation of marginal groups. In many of these cases, the
involvement of immigrant communities in integration measures is implied.
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EU countries generally refer the EU acquis ( ) and transposing EU
directives to national legislation as a major incentive to modernise their
integration frameworks (European migration network, 2013). Progress has been
made in several areas: easing administrative procedures for admission and
issuing residence and work permits (especially for highly qualified migrants),
although substantial barriers still exist in many countries (e.g. occupational
access limitations in Germany); improving, information, access and supporting
procedures leading to recognition of qualifications and diplomas (see Section 4.4,
ahead); the creation of induction programmes for all newly-arrived, targeting
language and other basic skills; the development of websites with information
and advice for prospective migrants and newly-migrated persons.
In practice, most countries have privileged measures in law for newly-arrived
immigrants, pertaining to CBP 4 (see Box 1) and concerned with linguistic and
basic cultural integration (Carrera, 2006). Although this is an important and
fundamental step in generating access to national institutions and allowing for
successful integration, it is only the basic level on the integration ladder.
Current budgetary restrictions on integration policies do not help
development of any the CBP’s. One of the effects of the European financial and
economic crisis is the fact that political and public support for integration policies
has been falling. Besides the unemployment pressure, this fall in public support
reflects a rise in social tension regarding certain cultural groups. Low investment
in integration policies allows such social tensions to grow, generating a vicious
cycle.
Public pressure has generated a climate in which most interventions geared
towards immigrant integration are designed and publicised as compensatory
measures, which address shortcomings and limitations, rather than initiatives
which enhance potentials, the utility of skills and positive social participation. This
type of negative connotation generates poor public support for integration policies
and disengagement of immigrant communities.

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( ) Legislation, legal acts and court decisions which compose the European Union law.

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