The Equal@work Platform is a space in which a diverse range of employers - from the public and private sector, civil society, trade unions and political institutions - come together to explore progressive ways to operate workplaces that are open, equal and free from discrimination. Participants engage in discussions about issues of diversity from an anti-racist perspective, with a common goal of finding solutions to the pressing challenges facing employers. The topic of this year’s seminar was the inclusion of refugees in the workplace. We asked participants : how can employers create meaningful job opportunities for refugees?
This document summarizes the results of an open, yet creative discussion and provides practical tools for employers with regard to inclusion of refugees in the workplace. First, we look at the barriers for various types of organisations (private companies, public services, civil society, trade unions) as employers and as agents of change in seeking to create employment opportunities for refugees. These barriers relate both to the broader institutional context surrounding refugee inclusion, and issues specific to employers themselves. The solutions section then looks at some of the ways various agents of change have overcome or addressed such barriers, in contexts relevant to them. We demonstrate this good practice through short case studies. This toolkit is intended as an introductory guide for employers seeking to include refugees, rather than dealing with specificities of employment and refugee policy in every European Union Member State.
Website: enar-eu.org
