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Valuing diversity: guidance for labour market integration of migrants

develop projects limited in time, frequently with strong support from European
funds, except if they are subcontracted by public organisations (as with ‘meeting
point’, Austria).
Public employment services are frequently involved in the networks, since
they concentrate many of the processes leading to immigrant integration. When
they are not effective partners in projects, they are at least closely articulated with
promoter organisations.
Varying approaches include a private promoter (employee-owned) in the
United Kingdom, Prospects, working under public national authorities and in its
turn subcontracting activities; and the Spanish AMIC, an association with a
strong regional role in the integration of immigrants attached to a trade union, the
UGT.
Employers are frequently involved in the networks, normally to enable
apprenticeships/internships. They can also act as a social anchor for projects,
given the potential role of immigrant firm owners as role models for at-risk youth
or women in search of professional activity. The NOBI project, in Germany, gives
emphasis to developing guidance competences among immigrant communities,
by providing training to associations and immigrant entrepreneurs.

5.1.3.3. Access
Some integration programmes are compulsory for all immigrants, as is
sometimes the case of adaptation/entry programmes. Most programmes are
voluntary for all immigrants in of legal status, as with the Latvian employment
measures or the French CED (although the CAI is compulsory). This is the
general situation with publicly provided services.
In some cases services are also provided to immigrants in irregular
situations, such as those who are undocumented or attempting to legalise their
situation. If the services have as prime function the support of refugees, they will
have more relaxed rules on the documentation of clients, as happens in the
validation centre in Sweden. The Portuguese CNAI also provides basic
information services irrespective of client legal status, although it will not enrol
clients in further counselling actions with the public employment services or social
security until they have legalised their situation.
In non-public initiatives, legal status only tends to become a restriction if
there is involvement of public authorities at a certain point (to validate skills,
recognise qualifications, supply internship offers), which may hinder the
development of the programme for those individuals.
The biggest challenge in voluntary programmes is often to identify and reach
target groups. Most programmes are promoted via websites, social media, flyers

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