Page 49 - valuing-diversity-guidance-for-labour-market-integration-of-migrants

Valuing diversity: guidance for labour market integration of migrants

Guidance processes can start ahead of departure, in the country of origin,
either face-to-face or using ICT. In some cases services may be under a bilateral
agreement between origin and host countries, to rationalise flows and increase
the odds of successful labour market integration. The flow of migrants is via
typical national entry doors, such as the frontier/admission service, the
employment services or the education system. Guidance activities can be
present as a stage in the value chain of the services provided by any of the
actors displayed, adapted to context.
We can picture a flow of migrants from one country to the other, potentially
making use of the country of origin’s services; for EU citizens there are European
mobility tools, such as Europass, Ploteus, and Erasmus (supported by system
level tools such as the national and European qualifications frameworks).
Guidance activities can explore the potential of European tools, supporting
assessment and career planning activities. It can also be relevant when engaging
third-country immigrants in recognition and validation procedures, with the aim of
enabling future mobility inside Europe; Europass usage can be encouraged and
validation procedures harmonised with national and European qualification
frameworks.
In spite of their potential, solutions developed for the general public, such as
e-guidance, might not always be effective for immigrant groups, due to linguistic
barriers or reduced access to information technologies. It must also be
considered that many immigrants are undocumented, are of illegal status or have
very weak social networks, with little knowledge of local institutions, conventions,
or job and education and training opportunities. Ensuring well placed and
adjusted signposting of services, as well as cooperative arrangements for service
provision between public services and with third sector organisations, is
important. Generating capacity in communities to provide guidance is also
important and can be achieved through several types of arrangement in which
community members can play a role.
Guidance services can position themselves as enabling and advocating
entities, actively intervening to help individuals overcome legal obstacles, gain
access to education and training, and improve their odds in the labour market. In
this last example, guidance can develop programmes to fight discrimination and
encourage the hiring of immigrant workers. Usually, development of enabling and
advocating activities requires very specific arrangements, since they often
exceed the legal competence of public providers.
Coordination and cooperation arrangements are fundamental factors in the
success and quality of guidance services for immigrants. The complexity of
migrant situations frequently means that individuals deal with a wide range of
services like social security, immigration services, employment services, and

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