Migrant workers need training and help with the adaptation
More than 30 participants gahtered around the round table for the event „Migration and business“, organized by Karitas Ruse within the international initiative MIND „Migration, Interconnectedness, Development“. Representatives of various business structures, experts and non-governmental organizations discussed the main challenges standing before the opportunity for realization of migrant workers on the Bulgarian market. Deputy Regional Governor Svilen Ivanov, as well as representatives of the Ruse Municipality, attended the meeting.
The most important messages of the key discussion participants:
Eleonora Ivanoca, BRCCI:
Accommodation and integration - that is what people who come to Bulgaria from other countries need to find a job. The business is in dire need of manpower: both professional and non-skilled. Bulgaria already has good job opportunities, the market is competitive enough, business organizations are acting as intermediaries, third-country workers are welcome.
Stela Dionisieva, RCCI:
Training and assistance for adaptation to the Bulgarian society. This is what the intermediary organizations can offer in order to improve the attractiveness of the Bulgarian labor market for foreigners. Permanent unemployment and retraining are both challenges and opportunities that can have a positive effect on changing the status quo.
Plamen Atanasov, employment expert:
More than 10,200 seasonal workers from 35 different countries have worked in Bulgaria during the first half of this year. This is 30% more than 2018, according to non-conclusive data. The main problems with migrant workers are the lack of knowledge of Bulgarian language, low education and the difficulties they experience in proving education and qualification. Facilitating the conditions for validation of knowledge and skills is one of the priorities of the Bulgarian authorities in 2020.
The main conclusions of the discussion will be given to the public authorities in the region.
The round table of discussion is part of the MIND „Migration, Interconnectedness, Development“ project, with the participation of 12 “Karitas” organizations from 11 European countries: Bulgaria, Austria, Bayern (Germany), the Czech Republic, the Netherlands, Europe, Belgium, Italy, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia and Sweden. The three-year initiative is realized with the financial aid of the European Commission. It contributes to the active participation of the European society on issues related to sustainable development, as well as raising awareness of the link between migration and sustainable development.
