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Valuing diversity: guidance for labour market integration of migrants

practices should be regularly reported to policy-makers, highlighting their
contribution to short-, medium- and long-term policy targets. The results should
also be communicated to the immigrant communities and the general population
through mass media (web, TV, newspapers, social media) that generate
engagement and public support.
There is a need for competence profiles or guidelines, or for the skills of
professionals offering guidance to migrant client groups to be documented. Most
European countries currently have no binding requirements regarding practitioner
skills in cross-cultural issues or knowledge contents in guidance services
provided to migrants. There are also no clear regulations or recommendations on
the composition of teams that provide different guidance activities to immigrants.
They should be multidisciplinary, given the depth of legal, psychological and
sociological aspects of integration. These guidelines should also extend to career
education, supporting teachers and trainer (mandatory) training in multicultural
methodologies.

8.2. Key messages at organisation and delivery level

8.2.1. Informing migrants and enterprises about guidance services and
their purposes
The information about available integration mechanisms, such as guidance,
recognition of qualifications, or career management skill development, should be
clear and included in the support to firms, particularly SMEs. Services must
account for immigrant contexts as much as possible, to generate trust,
community engagement, individual motivation and a better mapping of integration
issues. Ways to achieve these results include inserting guidance services in
community associations and other socialising environments; this helps people to
see them as an integrating, normal activity in their lives.
Guidance activities for immigrants need to be signposted and marketed in an
efficient manner to both the immigrant and native groups, using clear accessible
language. This could be done by schools, VET providers, local associations,
employment services, relevant web pages, social media and other means
deemed relevant. The provision must be perceived as a positive service, not an
obligation, which responds to felt needs. It should be voluntary, free and
universally available. Whenever possible, guidance services should be available
for citizens in undefined and irregular situations, to help them overcome personal
limitations and make them fully participative citizens in society and the economy.
One increasingly popular way of making guidance and other support services

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