1. Menedék’s Approach in Budapest – Let’s involve the private sector
Eszter Magyar
Menedék Hungarian Association for Migrants
In my presentation I will offer you a closer look on how we have involved and are involving the private sector in our project in Budapest.
The Realise project has received funding from the EC within the European Fund for the Integration of Third Country Nationals / Community Actions 2010 Programme.

2. To set the tone…
“…civil society actors are demonstrating their value as facilitators, conveners and innovators as well as service providers and advocates, while the private sector is playing an increasingly visible and effective role in tackling societal challenges.” World Economic Forum, 2013
To set the tone of my short presentation, I would like to highlight a quote from a recent publication of the World Economic Forum that is about the role of civil society in addressing global challenges.

3. In light of the EU Common Basic Principles on Integration
3: Employment is a key part of the integration process
to facilitate migrants’ employment, we need to involve potential employers and recruitment agencies
Getting to our “local” EU level, the Common Basic Principles on Integration emphasize that employment is a key part of the integration process. We decided to involve the private sector through direct cooperation with recruitment agencies that can provide the know how and the channels to connect migrants with employers.

4. What we did
Local Diagnostic Report: over-qualification is a persistent problem in the Hungarian society as a whole – we need to find the specific channels for migrants’ inclusion in the labour market
Panel of Local Stakeholders: focus on the involvement of private sector – recruitment agencies: Grafton International and JOB Ltd.
Pilot Local Intervention: Competence Cards + coaching – competence-based evaluation of migrants’ skills with internationally accepted human resources know-how
Long-term Strategy: widen and keep open the channels, while involving other groups of migrants (refugees, beneficiaries of subsidiary protection)
So let’s see what we did exactly during the project’s implementation and what we plan to do in the long-term

5. Our concept: 1. Competence Card Model
3 components: card, coaching and support services, dissemination – while involving recruitment agencies (Grafton and JOB Ltd.)
The Competence Card

6. Our concept: 2. Creating Channels
Basis: Competence Card Model – card + coaching
Bringing together migrants and potential employers through JOB Ltd. to break the vicious circle of over-qualification by better targeting
The approach:
Identify elements of companies’ CSR policies and diversity mainstreaming programmes that could include migrants
Find placements for migrants through dialogue with companies: apply those lessons learned from JOB Ltd.’s experience in working with people living with disabilities that are relevant for migrants – inclusive and flexible company culture and work environment

7. Thanks for your attention!

8. The Competence Card Actions: Conceptualizing and assembling the tool
Preparatory training
Competence training manual – sustainability
Conducting the assessment (5 cards filled)
Feedback, analysis

9. The Competence Card Lessons learned:
Modifying the list of „core competences”
adaptability (adaptive skills) became part of it
Language knowledge changed into language use
Competence levels used should be reconsidered (appropriate, outstanding, excellent) instead of 3, 2 would be sufficient
A more-less standardised market tool – prepares candidates for future job interviews
More applicable in case of knowing the particular workplace/employer targeted

10. The other PLI main actions Coaching/support and dissemination
Objective of Coaching: to extend existing services to include tailored support for overqualified migrants. Such new services will include measuring competences, issuing the card and coaching on job interviews and cultural differences.
Actions:
Approaching and involving social workers in the creation of the model – to ensure an effective, useful product they can utilize
Organize training for social workers on competences (training manual developed)
Create a tracking system to collect data and feedback on the new service
Objective of Dissemination:
Raise awareness of migrant overqualification and the Card
Strenghten cooperation amongst interested parties
Extending our PLS
Reaching out to migrant community leaders who are not part of the PLS