This difficulty will become even more prominent when the EU countries now have to counter the refugee crisis. The political concept of mobility must be linked also the notion of fair and sustainable integration.

Eurocadres is supporting the ETUC emergency motion “Refugee crisis in Europe” adopted at the ETUC 13th Congress on 30 September 2015 calling for the respect of fundamental human rights, as well as Global Unions Briefing Paper “2015 Global Forum on Migration and Development” addressing among others employment and recruitment policies. We also underline the importance of the ILO Decent Work Agenda.

Eurocadres is demanding concrete measures for integration by opening up employment and education. Employment is a key part of the integration process and is central to the participation of immigrants, to the contributions immigrants make to the host society, and to making such contributions visible.

Due to problems with recognition of qualifications, skills and work experience, many refugees and migrants end up unemployed or underemployed. Many highly-skilled refugees and migrants are working in low-skilled, temporary and poorly paid jobs. A loss not only for the affected persons, but also the receiving societies and their economies.

Business is facing challenges with skills mismatch. Skills gaps are not a problem only for businesses. They also mean that in times of unemployment there are positions that are not filled. Social partners in member states should work together with the competent authorities to establish fast-track procedures for fast entry to the labour market where appropriate.

Eurocadres calls EU member states

• to work together with the social partners to establish fast-track procedures for fast entry to the labour market and education where appropriate – especially with regards to recognition of professional qualifications of migrants’ and refugees’.
• to support the update of skills and knowledge by additional training or education. This will improve the likelihood to find suitable and long-term employment.
• to grant employment permission after a reasonable asylum seeking period and this period must be recognised as an important part of the process of integration of refugees, as it can represent for individuals a key period in the development of their educational, vocational training and employment prospects.
• to grant freedom of movement in order to work, and to have equality of treatment in parity with EU nationals.