CEAR Madrid hosted the Employment and Diverse Talent Day to promote the integration of refugees and asylum seekers into the workforce. The event showcased the skills and potential of refugee professionals, with CEAR Madrid coordinator Paco Garrido highlighting their valuable contributions to society. Begoña Arias, CEAR Madrid’s Inclusion Manager, stressed that employment and housing are key to social inclusion, while Noemí Mena from Erasmus University Rotterdam emphasised the benefits of intercultural workplaces for businesses.
Several companies shared their experiences in hiring refugees. Alsea has partnered with CEAR through its ‘En la línea de salida’ programme at Starbucks, while Carrefour has employed 120 refugees, improving team dynamics and employee engagement. PAZ.AI, a social startup, connects refugees with the tech sector by offering digital skills training, collaborating with companies like BlaBlaCar, which has successfully hired refugee professionals for IT and analytical roles. Social enterprises are also contributing to refugee employment. Causas CEAR runs eight kitchens across Spain, employing 39 people, 71% of whom are refugees. Foret and Ephimera have also incorporated refugees into their teams, with the latter urging small businesses to get involved. The event concluded with CEAR Madrid recognising 15 companies for their commitment to refugee inclusion, demonstrating the mutual benefits of integrating refugee talent into the labour market.
