The European Confederation of Independent Trade Unions (CESI) and the New European Business Confederation (UNITEE) in collaboration with the European Movement International and KYM International invite you to the next CESI@noon event on 

‘Labour market integration of refugees – the role of entrepreneurs and trade unions’ 

Tuesday 14 June 2016 – 1.00-3.00pm – Cocktail lunch from 12pm

CESI (European Confederation of Independent Trade Unions), Avenue de la Joyeuse Entrée 1-5, 1040 Brussels (Metro Schuman)

The event will take place in English

Register for the event here 

With a total of 1.3 million asylum applications made in Europe in 2015, the question of how to integrate refugees into the labour market is the challenge for many member states.  At the next CESI@noon event, we will be looking at the possible additional ways in which trade unions and entrepreneurs can support and assist refugees.

In the interests of both the refugees and the societies which welcome them, fast labour market integration is key. However, according to recent studies, innovative integration support measures are still lacking – and insufficiently funded. Also, from a trade union perspective, the massive influx of a young labour force may exercise pressure on social and labour protection standards, with the result that the matter of how to best integrate refugees into the labour market is only reluctantly addressed.

Over the course of the event, CESI and UNITEE wish to highlight the potential benefits of various labour market integration measures for refugees, such as mentoring programmes, which may be developed by entrepreneurs and trade unions. Enhancing their role and responsibility may also allow them fully to tap into the potential of refugees as future entrepreneurs, employers, employees and trade union members – not least in order to adapt to future challenges. Possible success stories shall be identified and ultimately explored.

Welcome:

Klaus Heeger, Secretary General of CESI

Discussion with the participation of:

Robert Anderson, Head of Unit, Eurofound
Brando Benifei, Member of the European Parliament
Marie Boscher, Policy Officer, European Commission
Savas Metin, Secretary-General, KYM International
Wolfgang Müller, Managing Director, German Federal Employment Agency
Romain Wolff, Secretary-General, CGFP Luxemburg

Moderation:

Petros Fassoulas, Secretary-General of the European Movement International

Conclusions:

Adem Kumcu, President of UNITEE