A refugee hiring, employing and on-boarding is in general very complex process which requires specific knowledge as well as soft competencies.
How to support refugee’s integration to a work place?
What training do employers need to interact successfully with refugees?
REST partners conducted a European research exploring training needs and preferences on the site of employers considering the benefits and barriers related to refugees’ work integration.
Building on the training needs emerged from the research, REST training modules were dedicated to six most often mentioned topics:
- Legal and administration issues
- Recruitment
- Induction and on-boarding
- Mentoring
- Intercultural aspects
- Communication in national language
REST Support system and training
Firstly, REST offers to employers training on legal measures regulating refugees’ employment and related administrative procedures. This training will be in Italy organised in a form of round table discussion with expert on Italian labour law and legislation concerning refugees and asylum-seeker.
The second training module is dedicated to identification and recruitment of employees or trainees from refugees. Here the learners will be introduced to the specifics of refugees’ recruitment and will be guided through the process of searching, screening and interviewing.
Following the chronological framework, the third module is focused on induction and on-boarding process. This module will help employers with refugees’ integration in the company culture and managing and motivating their employees with a different cultural background,
The forth module deals with mentoring which is considered being an important and useful approach in refugees’ integration to workplaces. This module explains what mentoring is, what mentor does and does not, what mentorship relationship is and how to manage it taking into account specific challenges when mentoring refugees. Furthermore, the module includes a toolbox of elements of successful mentorship and recommendations for appraisal interviews.
The intercultural aspects of refugees’ integration are treated in the fifth module. It starts with intercultural awareness and communication continuing with topics such as diversity management including different religions and traditions at workplace.
Finally, REST offers a unique tool to “easy language” which teaches how to use one’s own mother tongue in a way that it is clear and easily understandable for somebody whose skill in this language is only intermediate. This training material explains how the use of language affects understanding, which words are easy to understand, how to avoid difficult synonyms and formulate your message properly.
At their 3rd meeting in Vienna on 4th and 5th December 2017, REST partners agreed on final structure of REST Support system and training content and discussed the next steps of its implementation. REST training will be delivered it the form of face-to-face workshops, online learning materials and individual coaching provided on demand.
The workshops will take place from March to July 2018 and will be open to all employers who wish to learn more about work integration and enhance their competencies in human resources management.
About REST
REST – Refugee Employment Support and Training is a two-year-project funded by the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (AMIF) of the European Union.
The project partnership holds together eight European partners:
- Landkreis Kassel(Germany, coordinator);
- Die Berater Unternehmensberatungs GmbH(Austria);
- Blinc e.g.(Germany);
- ADICE – Association pour le développement des initiatives citoyennes et européennes(France);
- FOUR ELEMENTS(Greece);
- Catro(Bulgaria);
- Syrian Forum Austria(Austria);
- CESIE (Italy).
If you are interested in REST training modules or wish to receive individual support, please visit the project website or contact Cecilie Grusova.
