Improving cooperation between employment authorities and immigrant communities, and empowering immigrant organisations OPEN DAYS 2007 European week of Regions and Cities Brussels 8 – 11 October Workshop 10D33 Ulla Grönlund Overcoming discriminatory practices against immigrants and ethnic minorities in employment

Our vision: Genuine cooperation and communication between immigrant communities and authorities exist and evolve; And it provides concrete benefit for both of them.

Project:PROMENIO – Third Sector Labour Professionals Program:EQUAL community initiative Period: – Region: Turku and Tampere regions, Finland Managing organisation: Turku Employment Office Development partner:Tampere Employment Office Other partners:City of Turku City of Tampere 60 immigrant organisations in the regions of Turku and Tampere Other projects and organisations in the region Transnational partners:AWEMA (Wales) AFISAI (Spain) VIOZ (Netherlands) Budget: Personnel:4,75

FOR IMMIGRANT ORGANISATIONS: * ACTIVATION AND OPENING UP TO THE SOCIETY * UNDERSTANDING OF FINNISH WORKING CULTURE, SOCIETY AND LABOUR MARKET * DEVELOPMENT OF CAPACITY AND SKILLS * MORE CO-OPERATION WITH THE AUTHORITIES AND BETWEEN COMMUNITIES * INVOLVEMENT OF IMMIGRANT ORGANISATIONS IN THE SERVICE DELIVERY PROCESS, AS 1)AN EXPERT AND A VOICE FOR THEIR COMMUNITY AND 2)AS A SERVICE PROVIDER FOR AUTHORITIES: * DEMAND AND CUSTOMER DRIVEN SERVICES * KNOWLEDGE OF IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES/IMMIGRANT ORGANISATIONS AND THEIR NEEDS * NEW WORKING PRACTICES * MORE CO-OPERATION WITH THE IMMIGRANTS ORGANISATIONS PROMENIOS OBJECTIVES FOR BOTH: NETWORK DEVELOPMENT, ENLARGEMENT AND CONSOLIDATION AS WELL AS DEVELOPMENT OF GENUINE COOPERATION BETWEEN THE AUTHORITIES AND IMMIGRANT ORGANISATIONS

METHODS USED Short courses and open to all training days Personal advice and tutoring Promoting immigrant organisations participation in forums, working groups etc. Opening up discussions Organising visits for the authorities to meet representatives of immigrant organisations Organising visits for representatives of immigrant organisations to meet the authorities Seminars Strategic consultations Channelling information (www, leaflets, s) Marketing the skills of immigrant organisations and benefits of cooperation GUIDING PRINCIPLE IN ALL METHODS: DOING TOGETHER

CHALLENGES ENCOUNTERED 1) Difficulties in communication – hardly any personnel of immigrant background in the public sector 2) The expertise and abilities of immigrant communities and organisations not acknowledged very little cooperation with the public sector 3) Lack of information 4) The authorities have limited knowledge of the needs of immigrant communities 5) The role of the voluntary sector as an important link in the service delivery process realized, but no recourses are allocated to it. 6) Immigrant organisations have very limited recourses and do not know how to apply for funding when receive funding, usually only on a yearly basis, which restricts the development of their activities 7) Immigrant organisations and the authorities have different working hours 8) Prejudices

WHAT HAS BEEN ACHIEVED? 1)EMPLOYMENT SERVICES (and other public sector institutions) * More accepting and open attitudes - the general discourse strongly suggests this * Inclusion of immigrant organisation into their forums * Requests for experts opinions/reports from the authorities to the immigrant organisations * Purchasing of services from the immigrant organisations * Quality working groups (continuous discussion important, one-off hearings not productive) 2) IMMIGRANT ORGANISATIONS * Two regional umbrella organisations: SONDIP and HESHU (cooperation within and across communities) * Representation of immigrant organisations in several consultative forums, steering groups and working groups etc. * Activation of many organisations * Cooperation between communities; acting on shared objectives * More funding from the national level for the local organisations as a result of new skills

PROMENIO Establishment of cooperation between the authorities and immigrant organisations REAL RESULTS and REAL ADDED-VALUE will be realized as a result of continuous cooperation between the two over a period of time The two continue to work together without the aid of PROMENIO PROMENIOS TRUE RESULTS?

WHAT REMAINS TO BE DONE? (immigrant organisations) New models of voluntarism and better organisation of voluntary work are needed Better use of existing human resources as well as more efficient recruitment More professionalism, willingness to develop and to learn Willingness to influence on a political level Sharing resources (human, financial etc.) more often More cooperation with the authorities

WHAT REMAINS TO BE DONE? (the authorities) Flexibility with working hours and language requirements Continuous funding (for NGOs providing added-value to the society) and other support services directed at NGOs to match the expectations towards them Move away from hearings and irregular meetings towards continuous, regular and systematic partnerships Genuine partnership thinking and cooperation with immigrant organisations More transparency and channelling of information Recruiting immigrants and representatives of ethnic minorities

In order for a service to be fit for its purpose, it needs the continuous input from immigrant communities from the offset.