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Strasbourg, 15 September 2002 SEE/EO/ROMA (2002) 8
SOUTH EAST EUROPE REGIONAL PROJECT TO PROMOTE EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR ROMA A Stability Pact Initiative supported by the Austrian Government Training workshop for the staff of local employment services
WORKSHOP IN CROATIA
Report prepared by
Contents Introduction 3 Participants 3 Roma and employment in Merdjimurje 4 Working methods 4 Conclusion and recommendations 4 Appendices Appendix I – Participants 7 Appendix II – Letter from the President of the Association
Appendix III – Local employment offices and initiatives in favour
Introduction The project on equal opportunities for Roma is an initiative of the Council of Europe for the Stability Pact for South East Europe. It is supported by the Austrian Government. The objectives of the project are to improve the role of employment services in promoting employment opportunities for the Roma community, to develop regional networks and develop capacity building within the relevant actors. The project consists of four stages: two local training workshops for the staff of employment services and two regional meetings of representatives of employment services and Roma organisations. This document provides a report on the 2nd taining workshop which took place in Cakovec in the county of Medjimurje (Croatia) at the invitation of the Croatian authorities. The workshop included a visit to two Roma community settlements (Trnovec and Sitnice). The training workshop was lead by Ms Alina Maric, Lernia (Sweden) and Mr Virgil Bitu, Pakiv Foundation (Romania). Two Slovenian participants in the 1st training workshop in Novo Mesto also took part: Mr Franc Smerdu, Director of the Employment Service in Novo Mesto and Ms Vera Klopčič, Institute for Ethnic Studies. The objectives of the workshop were similar to those of the 1st workshop, namely (i) promote a common understanding of the problems facing disadvantaged ethnic groups, (ii) raise awareness of ways of promoting equal opportunities, (iii)identify solutions and priorities for action, and (iv) test the Council of Europe guidelines. This report provides a summary of the workshop. Participants The training workshop was opened by the mayor of Cakovec, Mr Branko Šalamon and the head of the regional employment service, Mr Vladimir Zebec. The President of the Association of the Roma Bajas in the County of Medimurje, Mr Ljudevit Oršuš also gave an opening address. The participants at the workshop were: · staff from the regional Employment Office in Cakovec and local employment offices in Križevci and Virovitica
A list of participants appears in Appendix I. Roma and employment in Merdjimurje Mr Oršuš, President of the Association of the Roma Bajas outlined the general situation of the Roma communities in the county of Medimurje and submitted a letter which is reproduced in Appendix II. Working methods As in the 1st workshop in Novo Mesto, this 2nd workshop adopted a highly participative approach. General presentations were kept as short as possible. Preference was given to having the participants work together in small groups, with presentation of the work and general discussions in plenary sessions. The composition of the working groups changed with each exercise. In some cases the groups separated employment service staff and Roma settlements and in other cases each group had a mixed composition employment service staff and Roma representatives. The motivating principle of the workshop being to bring the two “sides” together and give them an opportunity to work together and identify and agree on common solutions. In this way the following issues were discussed: - how can employment services co-operate in a better way with Roma settlements ?
The discussions took into the ideas and information presented during the 1st training workshop and the regional seminar that took place in Bucharest in February 2002. Relevant recommendations and guidance of the Council of Europe were also presented – see extracts in Appendix III. Conclusion and recommendations The following preliminary recommendations and conclusions draw on the discussions during the two and a half days. They were prepared by the training team and presented to the participants at the end of the workshop. A. Local level (Cakovec) A. Employment service to appoint a Roma adviser and/or mediator - Recruit a graduate Roma as employment counsellor (with a particular responsibility for Roma included in his/her functions)
B. Develop working partnership between Employment service, Roma representatives and employers with regular meetings, exchange of information and ideas (particularly on job vacancies but also on labour market analysis, training needs, employers’ needs in terms of skills and expectations); and work towards a more formal partnership C. Training - Develop programmes for disadvangaged young jobseekers - Ensure take up by young Roma through effective outreach work in Roma settlements
- Provide programmes on interview techniques, workplace behaviour B. National level – national strategy Appoint Roma advisers and/or mediators in local/regional employments services (and provide them with the funds to do so) Provide local/regional employment services with the resouces to support self-employment / income generating projects in local Roma settlements (for example urbanisation projects, recycling) Include the local level recommendations for Cakovec – for wider national application Adopt a special non discrimination law in employment Provide financial assistance for employers Consider application of the recommendations made at the workshop in Novo Mesto (Slovenia) ie: 1) to include new jobs in Occupation Core; 2) to create a special budget line for the support of income-generation and self-employment activities; 3) to support capacity building for Roma NGO s; 4) to incharge a person for Roma employment issue and to create a network for this issue; 5) to hire Roma as advisers within local Employment Services; 6) to ensure the employment of Roma who finished high level education and professional training services; 7) to promote the partnership between Roma NGO s and state institutions;
9) to give to Roma NGO s the status of contact point between job providers and Roma job-seekers; 10) to give financial facilities for employers who hire Roma; 11) to make public official documents on Roma issue, and to follow their provisions;
APPENDIX I Participants CROATIA 1. ZVONKO KALANJOŠ
EMPLOYMENT COUNSELLOR, REGIONAL OFFICE ČAKOVEC 13. ANICA BRODARIĆ EMPLOYMENT COUNSELLOR, REGIONAL OFFICE ČAKOVEC 14. KLAUDIJA VINKOVIĆ
VOCATIONAL AND EDUCATIONAL COUNSELLOR, REGIONAL OFFICE ČAKOVEC 17. SPOMENKA LOVREKOVIĆ EMPLOYMENT COUNSELLOR OF EMPLOYMENT OFFICE VIROVITICA 18. JANJA BALENT
CHAMBER OF TRADE 21. ANĐELKO CRNČEC
SLOVENIA 23. VERA KLOPČIČ
COUNCIL OF EUROPE 25. VIRGIL BITU Executive Director, Ethnic Foundation on Roma Economic Development, Bucharest 26. ALINA MARIC
Head of Co-ordination Unit: Stability Pact and Assistance Programmes, DG III Council of Europe APPENDIX II Letter from the President of the Association
Predsjednik Udruge Roma Bajaša Međimurske županije: Ljudevit Oršuš The Association of the Roma Bajas
Čakovec, May 25.,2002. On the behalf of the Association of the Roma Bajas of County Medjimurje , as its president I am welcoming you with respect.
In Croatia and in Europe Roma were always finding only passivity. They were not understood. Although we for surely know that since the beginnings of the world there were always institutions, which dealt with social problems. It is known that Roma have moved, in this case Roma Bajaš, and the movement was following ways of rivers, where in valleys were founding basic material for make of wooden products as: trough of different shapes and size, big ladle, plates and other wooden gallantry.
Beside of making troughs, they were also selling horses as well as breeding pedigreed horses and in that were very successful. Roma were and still are collectors of secondary raw material such as: iron, copper, aluminum, lead, battery, paper and so on. Roma were also collecting heeling plants and grass, roots and bark. This is the picture of the past. All of this is today gone and Roma were never looking for social welfare because they were having activities mentioned and many unmentioned. Due to reason that none of above-mentioned does exist any more Roma have to search for help to satisfy their own life needs. The settlement are made to ghettos, there is no good roads, no water or social houses that would make their life better. Today when their national and traditional crafts are gone Roma were not able to work. This was the beginning of great problems. In the system before transition many Roma were employed. Also there were Roma which were abounding their jobs because they were pushed aside, been given only worst and dirtiest jobs. Most of them were not called by personal names than. "Gypsy", "Negro" or "One with mustaches". Due to colors of their skin. Some of them left the work because of the pride. Today many young Roma are educating, for crafts. According to data in Medjimurje around 25 pupils are going to secondary school. According to some data around 70 pupils has graduated from secondary school. Many of them are not employed. Reasons are: Roma have different mentality and behavior, and also they are described in Medjiumurje as non-workers. Prejudices are big. There are around 5 000 Roma, and 1 400 are registered in Employment burro, aged 18 to 65. This makes negative picture that is making greater gap and impatience between main nation and Roma on subject of employment. Roma can work and they prove this by being self- thought masons. Their settlements are work of their own hands. This they have learned by their own masters. Roma are good in cutting of edges on fruit-trees. Some of orchards are unimaginable without Roma doing cutting off edges, collecting fruit and so on. Taking in consideration that republic Croatia is in difficult situation were many are unemployed or being laid off we please the European Union to endure specific of problem and help us so Roma can work and then live as people in Europe do. You from European Union will help us in best way if you use your power to employ Roma people in your own countries although they would have dirty and lowest jobs. Knowing that Roma in your countries are situated and equal citizens. Or you can help Roma by building near their settlements production plants or giving them impact in building farms Shortly we ask you to find the way how to employ Roma in this area. We believe in European Union and we believe you will help us, because you have helped many transition countries, so we do not see reason why not help Roma. This is a life question for us, existential questions as well as question on fighting prejudice and help Roma rights.
Thank you for your attention! President of the Association of the Roma Bajas of County Međimurje Ljudevit Oršuš APPENDIX III LOCAL EMPLOYMENT OFFICES
COUNCIL OF EUROPE RECOMMENDATIONS AND GUIDANCE A. Recommendation Rec(2001)17 on improving the economic and employment situation of Roma/Gypsies and Travellers in Europe (Adopted by the Committee of Ministers on 27 November 2001, at the 774th meeting of the Ministers’ Deputies) 1. Roma/Gypsy communities and organisations should participate fully in the processes of designing, implementing and monitoring programmes and policies aimed at improving their economic and employment situation (General Principle 1). 2. Area-based and local development strategies should contain clear and specific sets of goals and rules targeting Roma/Gypsy communities (General Principle 6). 3. Anti-discrimination legislation should be made more effective, bearing in mind that Roma face both direct and indirect discrimination. Therefore, NGOs providing legal assistance to Roma/Gypsies should be supported (General Principle 7). 4. Governments should promote equal opportunities for Roma/Gypsies on the labour market particularly through non-discriminatory policies and approaches on the part of national employment services (Part II – employment policies and access to the labour market). 5. The employment of Roma/Gypsies at all levels of the public sector should therefore be promoted and partnerships with local Roma/Gypsies be established, in order to provide them with on-the-job training. If necessary, strategies need to be developed to improve the employment potential of Roma/Gypsies through training in generic skills (Part II – employment policies and access to the labour market). 6. The development of income-generating activities by Roma/Gypsies should be supported by the following principles: partnerships between Roma and non-Roma NGOs, a bottom-up approach to policy and programme design, wide participation of all parties concerned, Roma and non-Roma co-operation, equal opportunities between women and men, accountability and transparency (Part III – income generating activities). 7. Anti-discrimination training of persons involved in recruitment decisions in the private and public sectors and in national employment services should be encouraged. Training should combine information on statutory obligations and on good practices in governmental and company policies, with respect to equal treatment (Part V – Training and education). 8. Vocational training programmes for Roma/Gypsies should respond to local or regional needs, for instance the improvement of Romani neighbourhoods, and to employment opportunities. Preference should be given to on-the-job training and product development. Market research should be part of the training (Part V – Training and education). B. Training and guidance memorandum on equal opportunities for the staff of employment services (Strasbourg, 2001) I Needs analysis – establishing reliable indicators Local information should be gathered to supplement the national data and with a view to informing the planning, delivery and evaluation of the effectiveness of local employment services for local immigrant and ethnic minority communities II Training staff on equal opportunities There should be regular staff training set within the context of clear national guidelines on the importance of promoting equal opportunities and overcoming the barriers of discrimination and disadvantage in the labour market. III Staff recruitment and policy Employment services should aim to have an ethnically diverse workforce. IV Influencing employers’ recruitment and employment practices A strategic approach is necessary to involve employers. Changing their employment practices requires active methods. V. Job search and job skills training Employers should be involved where possible in the design, preparation and delivery of vocational training which should also be based in the workplace. VI. Evaluating the impact of employment service programmes on the local community Evaluating the impact of programmes should be done at national and local level and the results used to inform decisions about allocating resources and deciding emerging priorities. |
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