The Charles Bronfman Prize’s Post

Throughout France, many companies are taking action – or showing a strong interest – in supporting refugees’ access to employment. Despite the strong motivation of refugees, as well as the recruitment needs in many sectors, several obstacles remain: 🔸 Mastery of the French language, 🔸 Administrative challenges, 🔸 A lack of connections between supply and demand, 🔸 Prejudices and discrimination. To overcome these challenges, UNHCR’s latest study in France (in French) identifies three key drivers: 1️⃣ Access to the right information: Clear access to information on job opportunities and procedures is essential for both businesses and refugees. 2️⃣ Strengthening stakeholder coordination: Collective action between businesses, public authorities, and associations helps improve recruitment and ensure sustainable integration within companies. 3️⃣ Changing perceptions: It is crucial to combat prejudices and highlight the talents and contributions of refugees. 💬 For more information, check out our study “Breaking Barriers for Better Socio-Economic Inclusion of Refugees”: https://lnkd.in/eUCUGtZA 📊 Discover the results of our previous survey: https://lnkd.in/eyr7YVG4 CCI France, Chambre de commerce et d’industrie de région Paris Ile-de-France CCI Nantes St-Nazaire France Travail, la Délégation interministérielle à l'accueil et à l'intégration des réfugiés (Diair), Direction générale des étrangers en France (DGEF), Tent Partnership for Refugees Les entreprises s'engagent, Charlotte Pinet, Barbara Joannon (👏👏👏), Elodie Carette, Paula Barrachina Esteban, Paolo Artini, Clémence Enjelvin, Fadma Moumtaz, Mathilde Etoundi.

It's #WorldRefugeeDay, and we're celebrating the strength and courage of people who have been forced to flee their homes to escape conflict or persecution. Last year, we reaffirmed our commitment to refugee and migrant support with our global partner Tent Partnership for Refugees by pledging to improve the work lives of 50,000 people within three years (2023-2025) 💪 In 2023 alone, we supported 39,896 refugees through job placements or training (up from 18,818 in 2022) 💙 🌍 Our teams across the globe carry out great work to support refugees. For example, Randstad France supports the HOPE program which aims to alleviate housing and linguistic challenges amongst refugees, while Randstad Nederland runs innovative initiatives to integrate refugee talent into the labor market. In talent-scarce labor markets, supporting refugees in the world of work not only contributes to diversity in the workplace but also fosters innovation, drives results, and attracts talented jobseekers. In line with our ambition to be the most equitable and specialized talent company, we are proud to play an active role in supporting refugees worldwide.

Today is #WorldRefugeeDay 🌍 – a day that highlights the rights and needs of refugees. According to the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), more than 110 million people worldwide are currently displaced, with 66 percent of them having been on the move for at least five years. Access to regular employment is crucial for the financial well-being of refugees. Despite progress, many obstacles to integration remain – such as the requirement for work permits and difficulties in the recognition of qualifications. Support like language courses 📚 and vocational training 🛠️ are essential. The HR services industry plays a key role in facilitating refugees' access to the labor market. Projects like “Welcome & Work” in Italy, where 45 million Euros were allocated to facilitate the integration of refugees by offering Italian language courses or vocational training, provide important support. The integration of refugees can also help alleviate skilled labor shortages. Collaboration between governments, employment services, and employers is crucial. The @UNHCR promotes employment pathways and labor mobility programs with positive economic impacts. On World Refugee Day, the @World Employment Confederation, of which @The Adecco Group is part, reaffirms its commitment to inclusive labor markets. Together, we can create an inclusive future! 🌟🤝 #WorldRefugeeDay #RefugeeRights #Integration #LaborMarket #Collaboration #MakeTheFutureWorkForEveryone

Happy to share our new paper on #refugees’ pre- and in-#employment #experiences in #Germany that has just been published in European Management Review (please find the open access link below). Employment is crucial to the integration of refugees in host countries. Using Bourdieu's theory of practice and data from interviews with refugees, employment agency representatives, and managers, we explore how refugees experience the recognition of their academic and professional credentials while seeking jobs in Germany as well as during their employment. Our analysis shows that while the collaborative efforts of different actors can provide information and guidance‐related benefits, they offer limited support to refugees to access or utilize critical forms of cultural capital to advance employment effectively. Thank you to Washika Haak-Saheem, Rita Fontinha, Chris Brewster, and Ahmad Ahmady for this stimulating collaboration and research journey. https://lnkd.in/dYEGQQ8i HSBA Hamburg School of Business Administration

Finding a job is hard, but even more so for refugees and migrants. They face many challenges including cultural and language barriers, prior qualifications not being recognised and unconscious bias from employers. This, along with the ways workplaces can support refugees, were the key themes of a panel discussion hosted by LinkedIn to mark World Refugee Day on June 20. It was great to hear from Federal MP for Fowler Dai Le MP, refugee ambassador Yaser Naseri and Ukrainian refugee Vadym Shcherban who shared their lived experiences as migrants and solutions for helping refugees join the workforce. Some key takeaways: 💡 Dai called for companies to have the boldness to employ someone who may not have a skillset but has the potential to be trained. She said it's not easy and it can be a risk, but having the patience to give someone a chance to learn can work. 💡 Vadym suggested employers offer refugees with opportunities to undertake real-life projects, provide them with feedback and references and placing them on a waitlist for future jobs. 💡 Yaser said employing refugees played a significant part in giving them confidence and a feeling of belonging which transformed other areas of their lives. Thanks Tuan Pham and the LinkedIn Social Impact team for organising a very insightful event that inspired greater action to help refugees and migrants thrive in their new home countries. #worldrefugeeday

The Prime Legacy of Global Powerhouses—𝐁𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐧 𝐖𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐋𝐢𝐧𝐤𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐧 𝐄𝐝𝐢𝐭𝐨𝐫 | 𝐃𝐚𝐢 𝐋𝐞 𝐌𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐢𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐫𝐞𝐟𝐮𝐠𝐞𝐞 | 𝐀𝐦𝐛𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐚𝐝𝐨𝐫 𝐘𝐚𝐬𝐞𝐫 𝐍𝐚𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐢 | 𝐔𝐤𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝐫𝐞𝐟𝐮𝐠𝐞𝐞 𝐕𝐚𝐝𝐲𝐦 𝐒𝐡𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐛𝐚𝐧. Empowering Refugees and Migrants in the Workforce: Strategies for Inclusive Employment Acquisition. In the fast pace and insanity of employment acquisition, refugees and migrants face a myriad of challenges that pose significant obstacles to their professional integration. From cultural and linguistic barriers to the lack of recognition for their qualifications, these individuals encounter a complex landscape filled with hurdles that impede their access to meaningful employment opportunities. Against this backdrop of adversity, a recent panel discussion organized by LinkedIn on World Refugee Day brought to the forefront the pressing need to support refugees within the workplace. The dialogue, featuring insights from distinguished figures such as Dai Le MP refugee ambassador Yaser Naseri, and Ukrainian refugee Vadym Shcherban delved into the lived experiences of migrants and offered innovative solutions to facilitate their successful integration into the workforce. One key takeaway from the discussion was the pivotal role that corporations play in championing diversity and inclusion within their organizations. A welcoming environment that empowers refugees and migrants to thrive professionally can be created by implementing strategic initiatives such as diversity training, mentorship programs, and inclusive hiring practices. The power of diversity lies in the unique perspectives and talents that individuals from diverse backgrounds bring to the table. A wealth of untapped potential and innovation within their teams can be driven by companies through embracing these differences and providing support tailored to the needs of refugees and migrants. As we navigate the complex terrain of employment acquisition for refugees and migrants, it is essential for businesses to prioritize inclusivity and create opportunities for all individuals to succeed. A more equitable and inclusive workforce, where every individual has the opportunity to excel and contribute meaningfully, can be built by working together to break down barriers and foster an environment of acceptance and support. Your extraordinary superpowers and contributions will forever be cherished and deeply appreciated in my heart. On behalf of the United Nations, I extend my heartfelt gratitude to each of you superheroes. Thank you immensely, powerhouse—Brendan Wong🫡🥂🇦🇺👍🏻 #superheroes #powerstation #powerhouse #notalone #backtoback #unitednations #supwerpowers

Today I had the privilege of attending the online event “Harnessing Talent and Opportunity: Skilled Migration Pathways for Refugees in the Global Workforce”. I was very inspired by it and thought I would share what I learned and some insights. As part of the 2024 Migration Summit, Noura Ismail and Patrick O'Leary from the global non-profit Talent Beyond Boundaries (TBB) exposed their amazing impact and fast development in the field of labour mobility for refugees. Through their presentation, they demonstrated that hiring refugees is not only the right thing to do, but also the smart thing to do, as refugees constitute an untapped talent pool. Natasha Catterson from Fragomen explored the firm's partnership with TBB. She passionately described how employment pathways help refine the orthodox refugee narrative by showcasing refugees as resourceful, determined, and highly skilled professionals. Way more than a CSR program, hiring refugees can be a triple win: for individuals, companies and the economy. As an immigration coordinator at Fragomen and a postgraduate student in Global Governance and Diplomacy focusing on migration and refugee studies, this event was extremely valuable not only for my current research but also as a driving force for me as an individual and a professional. I cannot stress enough how interesting and inspiring today's conversation was. I encourage everyone with an interest in migration to have a look at the events carried out during this year's Migration summit at: https://lnkd.in/eeDC_fNJ #MigrationSummit #migrationsummit24 #SkilledMigration #RefugeeTalent #GlobalWorkforce #TalentsBeyondBoundaries #EmploymentOpportunities #InclusiveRecruitment  

🙏 A heartfelt thank you to U.S. Ambassador Shefali Razdan Duggal & Tent Partnership for Refugees 🙏 For hosting such an inspiring evening at US Embassy The Hague. Ambassador Shefali Razdan Duggal emphasized the immense potential refugees bring to our communities when given the right opportunities to integrate into the workforce. Her message highlighted both the resilience and value that the 290,000 refugees and asylum seekers can contribute to society. It was particularly moving to hear from Nisar Chakary a former refugee, who shared his personal journey, shedding light on the hurdles refugees face in accessing the workforce in the Netherlands. His story underscored the urgent need to unlock this untapped talent. He also highlighted the essential role of employers in providing inclusive recruitment processes, ensuring that not only the hiring but also the overall processes are adapted to support refugees effectively. Gideon Maltz, CEO of Tent Partnership for Refugees, echoed this urgency by discussing the critical need for streamlined processes in the Netherlands to facilitate quicker access to employment. Learning that the path to employment for refugees can span years was both eye-opening and a call to action for more efficient and supportive measures. Diversity and inclusion are not just aspirational ideals—they are fundamental to sustainable growth and societal progress. At Asito, we are proud to be part of this collective effort towards building a more inclusive future for all! #RefugeeEmpowerment #InclusiveGrowth #TentPartnership #USEmbassy #Asito

We are fast approaching Refugee Week 2024 (June 17th - 23rd) 🎉 This year we're starting a refugee employment forum to give business leaders and refugees the opportunity to ask questions and learn from others. A powerful way to break down barriers and open up opportunities. 👉 Save the link to the forum (live on the 17th June): https://loom.ly/ARWlQyE Your answers to questions on the forum could help bring about change. For refugees, this means learning valuable insights from anyone who works in the UK. And for business leaders, it means learning from refugees to create more inclusive and refugee-friendly workplaces. Anyone with a job in the UK and/or who is from a refugee background should be able to answer some, or all, of the questions. It doesn't matter what you do, what level you're at, or the industry you work in - everyone will have something to offer. 💙 #RefugeeWeek #BusinessBehindRefugees

My former LMIC colleague Suzanne Spiteri, PhD just launched her latest research report on the challenges refugees face when it comes to accessing labour market information pre- and post-arrival to Canada. It's a great piece that provides an overview of the employment challenges faced by refugees, and features first-hand accounts and recommendations directly from refugees themselves about how the system can be improved. The (very actionable) recommendations directly from refugees include: 👉 Canada should provide tailored LMI sessions for newcomers on arrival to ensure the information they have access to is timely and relevant. 👉 Settlement services should develop a formal, peer-to-peer program that connects newcomers with other newcomers to share information and experiences. 👉 Canada should seek direct feedback from newcomers on the foreign credential recognition system. New from Labour Market Information Council (LMIC) | Conseil de l'information sur le marché du travail (CIMT): https://lnkd.in/gPvEZUwQ