The role of trade unions in integrating refugees into the workplace

The role of trade unions in integrating refugees
into the workplace and society
EFFAT fully backs the emergency motion adopted at the 13th ETUC Congress on 30
September 2015 (see Annex 1).
Trade unions can – and have a responsibility to – provide crucial support in the
socioeconomic integration of refugees and foreign workers.
Refugees can potentially play an important role in the development of their host
communities. In this connection, giving individuals access to the labour market is crucial, as
it helps to restore a sense of self-worth, shore up human dignity, facilitate recovery from
trauma and encourage financial independence.
Where refugees are allowed to work, we should assist, unionise and organise them, to better
protect their working and employment conditions and prevent social dumping by ensuring
that employers are unable to erode their pay and benefits. Refugees are particularly
vulnerable because they are often unaware of their rights and can fall victim to unscrupulous
gangmasters. These practices also create unfair competition by disadvantaging companies
that abide by good labour and employment practices. The EU was not established to
promote exploitation at the expense of good employment practices. Firm action needs to be
taken!
To integrate refugees into the workplace and society, the following measures should be
considered:
• The right to work for refugees should be included in a number of international and
regional instruments. Articles 17 to 19 of the UN's 1951 Refugee Convention grant
refugees the right to employment, and Article 24 recognises that they should be
treated the same way as nationals with regard to wages, social security, working
conditions, benefits, taxation, pensions and in other domains.
• Article 31 of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights recognises workers’ rights to
fair and just working conditions regardless of their status as EU citizens or thirdcountry nationals, irrespective of whether they are legal or illegal residents.
• Conditions, practices and support during the asylum-seeking procedure should
promote refugees' dignity and aim to empower individual asylum-seekers. This
should include preparing individuals for future integration or their return home.
• The EU Member States should simplify their procedures for recognising foreign
qualifications. In this respect it is crucial to ensure the effective implementation and
enforcement of provisions laid down in several EU directives, such as 2011/95/EU
on standards for the qualifications of third-country nationals or stateless persons as
beneficiaries of international protection, for a uniform status for refugees or for persons
eligible for subsidiary protection, and for the content of the protection granted;
2005/36/EC on the recognition of professional qualifications; and 2013/33/EU laying
down standards for the reception of applicants for international protection (see
Annex 2).
• Steps need to be taken to ensure the effective implementation of the core protective
measures in the Seasonal Workers Directive 2014/36/EU to prevent exploitative
practices and abuses of third-country nationals and ensure that the core content of
this directive is extended to include refugees.
• Most urgently of all, refugees should be offered language courses and classes to
develop their knowledge of the labour market and learn how to apply for jobs. This
will not only give them more confidence, but should in particular facilitate their
integration into workplaces and communities.
• The EU Member States should train job applicants about employment contracts
even before they have full access to the labour market. This is essential for
maximising their prospects of future employment either in a host country, if their
asylum application is accepted, or back home if it is rejected and they have to return
to their country of origin.
• The EU Member States should set up a consultation framework comprising trade
unions, employers, relevant NGOs and local and/or national authorities, because
integration is not a short-term issue, but a long-term, structural challenge.
• National and/or local authorities ought to ensure that companies and trade unions
have full information concerning the recruitment and employment of foreign
workers.
• Refugees not only need to obtain a legal work permit; they must also be able to
assert their right to use it. For this to happen, the EU Member States must simplify
the procedures for obtaining work permits.
• The social partners need a common approach if integration into the workplace is to
be successful. Integration necessitates equal treatment regarding wages, working
hours, social security, occupational health and safety, etc. Applicable local rules
and regulations and collective agreements must be respected.
• The employment relationship must be transparent (see Annex 3).
• Depending on the situational context and available resources, trade unions can, on
their own initiative, provide help and advice in the field to respond to refugee
emergencies (for example by actively cooperating with the relevant authorities).
• Trade unions can produce leaflets for refugees, written in their languages, outlining
their rights, including with regard to work.
• Trade unions need to collect and share examples of good practices regarding
refugees' and asylum-seekers' integration into the labour market and encourage
cross-border learning from these good practices.
• Trade unions must unionise and organise ALL workers and enable them to play an
active role in the trade union movement.
Emergency motion - Refugee crisis in Europe
Adopted at the ETUC 13th Congress on 30 September 2015
In recent months Europe has been experiencing a massive increase in numbers of people crossing our
borders to seek protection from war and destruction in their own countries.
Many of these asylum-seekers risk their lives and the lives of their children and families in search of a peaceful
and respectful environment to live in. The ETUC strongly condemns any measures that endanger their human
dignity, human rights or physical integrity.
The barriers and fences that have been built recently have proved to be ineffective and have the sole impact
of diverting flows from one route to another and playing into the hands of people-smugglers. Their use must
be rejected.
We deplore the loss of lives of asylum-seekers crossing the Mediterranean and reiterate our call for the
European Commission to continue search-and-rescue operations in order to provide effective humanitarian
assistance to those at sea.
Long queues at asylum offices, overcrowded reception centres and improvised camps in many corners of
Europe show how badly prepared and unwilling the countries have been to cope with this crisis. Austerity
policies have added to the problems, making conditions even more difficult in the countries where refugees
first arrive.
The ETUC supports the fundamental European values of respect for human life and dignity, and opposes
populist and xenophobic attitudes. These values must be translated into action. To this end a genuine
cooperation between EU Member States in accepting adequate numbers of refugees is essential, in line with
the letter and spirit of the Treaties.
The ETUC calls for a proactive European asylum policy which respects internationally agreed protection
standards, including the UN 1951 Convention on Refugee Status and its 1967 Protocol.
The Dublin Regulation must be overhauled. New rules should ensure that care for asylum-seekers is fairly
shared between Member States and, as far as possible, take account of asylum-seekers' needs and choice
of country of destination based on community, linguistic or family links, among other factors.
The ETUC calls for an urgent resettlement scheme which goes far beyond the 20,000 resettlements from
third countries initially proposed by the European Commission.
The Council's decisions adopted on 22 September have to be welcomed. Relocation of 160,000 refugees
can provide immediate relief to countries receiving extraordinary flows of international protection-seekers. In
addition, financial aid to UN agencies will also help people camped in millions on the edges of conflict areas.
However, the measures agreed by the Council provide only a partial response to the challenges that Europe
is facing, and are far from achieving a permanent solution within a genuine European asylum policy. The
ETUC encourages Member States to continue to work together in a spirit of constructive solidarity under the
leadership of the European institutions. The ETUC condemns governments that are currently opting out of a
common approach towards the relocation of asylum-seekers in Europe.
The ETUC calls for more effective cooperation for development with countries of origin. Democratic and
economic development is key to removing the root causes of large-scale movements of people. The EU has
a role to play in fostering this process.
The European Commission Agenda to cope with the refugee crisis may prove inadequate given the growing
scale of the problem, especially on the East Balkan routes and in the Mediterranean Sea. More must be
done: all people have the right to safety, economic security, religious and political freedom and access to
quality health services and quality education within a society which protects those freedoms. The EU and its
Member States should restore adequate levels of quality public services for all. Priority should be given to
services that safeguard social cohesion, such as employment and housing. Reception and asylum processing
centres need to be staffed by well-trained public-service workers.
With its 60 million members, the trade union movement in Europe remains a bulwark against all forms of
intolerance and will continue to press for humanitarian responses to a humanitarian crisis. Where refugees
are able to work, unions will recruit and represent them, and we will work with partners to provide
humanitarian assistance to those who are not in work. The ETUC will cooperate with the International Trade
Union Confederation is responding to a crisis that is global as well as European.
Motion d'urgence - Crise des réfugiés en Europe
Adoptée au 13ème Congrès de la CES le 30 septembre 2015
la guerre et les destructions dans leurs pays et traversant ses frontières pour y chercher protection.
mettant en danger leur dignité humaine, leurs droits humains ou leur intégrité physique.
Les obstacles et les clôtures récemment érigés se sont révélés inefficaces et ont pour seul effet de dévier
bannir.
Nous pleurons les pertes de vie de migrants en Méditerranée et réitérons notre appel à la Commission
aide humanitaire efficace.
Les longues f
sont mal préparés et réticents face à cette crise. Les po
La CES soutient les valeurs européennes fondamentales de respect de la vie et de la dignité humaines et
pays accueille un nombre suffisant de réfugiés c
prévues par les accords internationaux, y compris la convention de 1951 des Nations unies relative au statut
des réfugiés et son protocole de 1967.
Le règlement de Dublin doit être révisé. De nouvelles règles doivent assurer que la prise en charge des
possible, des besoins et du choix du pays de destination des réfugiés, notamment sur base de liens
communautaires, linguistiques ou familiaux.
La CES plaide pour un programme de réinstallation urgent allant bien au-delà de la réinstallation de 20.000
ressortissants de pays tiers initialement proposée par la Commission européenne.
Il faut saluer les décisions du Conseil adoptées le 22 septembre. La répartition de 160.000 réfugiés peut
apporter un soulagement immédiat aux pays les premiers touchés par les flux énormes de personnes
cherchant protection. De plus, le soutien financier aux agences des Nations unies viendra aussi en aide aux
millions de déplacés dans les camps à la périphérie des zones de conflit. Cependant, les mesures arrêtées
par le Conseil ne
encourage les États membres à agir ensemble dans un esprit de solidarité constructive sous la houlette des
institutions européennes. La CES condamne les gouvernements qui refusent actuellement une approche
La CES appelle à une coopération plus efficace
leur développement démocratique et économique est essentiel pour éliminer les causes premières des
L
Méditerranée. Il faut en faire davantage : toutes les personnes ont droit à la protection, à la sécurité
de qualité et à une
éducation de qualité
res doivent
rétablir des services publics de qualité adéquats pour tous. Priorité doit être donnée aux services qui
Fort de ses 60 millions de membres, le mouvement syndical européen reste un rempart contre toute forme
humanitaire. Lorsque des réfugiés sont en mesure de travailler, les syndicats les recruteront et les
travail. La CES coopérera avec la Confédération syndicale internationale pour répondre à une crise qui est
non seulement européenne mais aussi mondiale.
Dringlichkeitsantrag - Flüchtlingskrise in Europa
Verabschiedet vom 13.. EGB-Kongress am 30. September 2015
In den vergangenen Monaten hat es über die europäischen Grenzen einen massiven Zustrom von Menschen
gegeben, die bei uns Schutz vor Krieg und Zerstörung in ihren eigenen Ländern suchen.
Viele dieser Asylsuchenden riskieren ihr Leben und das Leben ihrer Kinder auf der Suche nach friedlichen
Lebensumständen, in denen sie als Menschen respektiert werden. Der EGB verurteilt nachdrücklich alle
Maßnahmen, die die menschliche Würde, die Menschenrechte oder die körperliche Unversehrtheit dieser
Menschen gefährden.
Die Hindernisse und Zäune, die in letzter Zeit errichtet wurden, haben sich als unwirksam erwiesen und
bewirken lediglich, dass sich die Flüchtlingsströme einen anderen Weg suchen und Menschenschmuggler
davon profitieren. Diesen Banden ist das Handwerk zu legen.
Wir beklagen den Tod von Asylsuchenden, die Europa über das Mittelmeer erreichen wollen, und
wiederholen unsere Forderung, dass die Europäische Kommission weiterhin Such- und Rettungseinsätze
durchführen soll, um den Flüchtlingen auf hoher See humanitäre Hilfe zukommen zu lassen.
Lange Schlangen vor den Asylbehörden, überfüllte Aufnahmelager und improvisierte Camps in vielen Teilen
Europas zeigen, wie schlecht vorbereitet und unwillig die Länder sind, diese Krise zu bewältigen. Die
Austeritätspolitik hat diese Probleme zusätzlich verschärft und die Bedingungen in den Ankunftsländern noch
schwieriger gemacht.
Der EGB unterstützt die fundamentalen europäischen Werte wie Respekt vor dem menschlichen Leben und
der Menschenwürde und bekämpft populistische und fremdenfeindliche Einstellungen. Das Einstehen für
diese Werte muss in Form konkreter Maßnahmen erfolgen. Zu diesem Zweck ist eine echte Zusammenarbeit
zwischen den EU-Mitgliedstaaten wichtig, die entsprechend dem Wortlaut und dem Geist der Verträge eine
angemessene Anzahl von Flüchtlingen aufnehmen müssen.
Der EGB fordert eine proaktive europäische Asylpolitik, die international vereinbarte Schutzstandards
beachtet, darunter auch das UN-Abkommen über die Rechtsstellung von Flüchtlingen von 1951 und das
ergänzende Protokoll von 1967.
Die Dublin-Verordnung muss modifiziert werden. Neue Vereinbarungen sollten sicherstellen, dass die
Betreuung der Asylsuchenden gerecht zwischen Mitgliedstaaten aufgeteilt wird und dass dabei weitgehend
auf die Bedürfnisse der Asylsuchenden und die Wahl ihres bevorzugten Ziellandes Rücksicht genommen
wird. Dabei sind - neben anderen Faktoren - Gemeinschaft, Sprache und Familie entscheidend.
Der EGB fordert ein schnell umzusetzendes Neuansiedlungsprogramm, das weit über die ursprünglich von
der Europäischen Kommission vorgeschlagene Neuansiedlung von 20.000 Flüchtlingen aus Drittstaaten
hinausgeht.
Die am 22. September angenommenen Beschlüsse des Rates sind zu begrüßen. Die Umverteilung von
160.000 Flüchtlingen kann zu einer sofortigen Entlastung von Ländern führen, die eine außerordentlich hohe
Zahl von internationalen Schutzsuchenden aufnehmen. Darüber hinaus werden Finanzhilfen für
Sonderagenturen der Vereinten Nationen ebenfalls den Millionen Menschen zugutekommen, die in
Flüchtlingslagern unmittelbar an der Grenze der Konfliktzonen leben. Die vom Rat vereinbarten Maßnahmen
stellen allerdings nur eine unvollständige Antwort auf die Herausforderungen dar, mit denen Europa
konfrontiert wird, und sind weit von einer dauerhaften Lösung innerhalb einer echten europäischen Asylpolitik
entfernt. Der EGB ermutigt die Mitgliedstaaten, weiterhin im Geiste konstruktiver Solidarität unter der
Führung der europäischen Institutionen zusammenzuarbeiten. Der EGB verurteilt Regierungen, die
gegenwärtig nicht an einer gemeinsamen Strategie zur Umverteilung der Asylsuchenden in Europa
teilnehmen wollen.
Der EGB fordert eine effektivere Entwicklungszusammenarbeit mit den Herkunftsländern.
Eine
demokratische und wirtschaftliche Entwicklung ist entscheidend für die Beseitigung der eigentlichen
Ursachen dieser massiven Wanderungsbewegungen von Menschen. Die EU muss einen wichtigen Beitrag
zur Förderung dieses Entwicklungsprozesses leisten.
Die Agenda der Europäischen Kommission zur Bewältigung der Flüchtlingskrise kann sich angesichts des
zunehmenden Ausmaßes dieses Problems als unzureichend erweisen, dies gilt besonders für die Situation
auf den Ostbalkanrouten und im Mittelmeer. Hier muss mehr getan werden: Alle Menschen haben das Recht
auf Schutz, wirtschaftliche Sicherheit, Religionsfreiheit, politische Freiheit und Zugang zu einem qualitativ
hochwertigen Gesundheits- und Bildungswesen in einer Gesellschaft, die diese Freiheiten schützt. Die EU
und ihre Mitgliedstaaten sollten dafür sorgen, dass es wieder ein adäquates Angebot an qualitativ
hochwertigen öffentlichen Diensten für alle gibt. Priorität sollten dabei Dienstleistungen haben, die den
sozialen Zusammenhalt sichern, z.B. Beschäftigung und Wohnen. Die Aufnahmeeinrichtungen und die
Zentren für die Prüfung von Asylansprüchen müssen mit gut ausgebildeten Beschäftigten des öffentlichen
Dienstes besetzt werden.
Mit ihren 60 Millionen Mitgliedern bleibt die europäische Gewerkschaftsbewegung ein Bollwerk gegen jede
Form von Intoleranz und wird sich weiterhin für eine humanitäre Antwort auf diese humanitäre Krise
einsetzen. Wo Flüchtlinge in der Lage sind zu arbeiten, werden die Gewerkschaften sie für sich gewinnen
und sie vertreten. Wir werden mit Partnern zusammenarbeiten und denjenigen humanitäre Hilfe leisten, die
keine Arbeit haben. Der EGB wird mit dem Internationalen Gewerkschaftsbund zusammenarbeiten, um auf
eine Krise zu reagieren, die sowohl eine globale als auch eine europäische Dimension hat.
Annex2
DIRECTIVE 2011/95/EU OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL
of 13 December 2011 on standards for the qualification of third-country nationals or
stateless persons as beneficiaries of international protection, for a uniform status for
refugees or for persons eligible for subsidiary protection, and for the content of the
protection granted
Article 26 Access to employment
1. Member States shall authorise beneficiaries of international protection to engage in
employed or self-employed activities subject to rules generally applicable to the
profession and to the public service, immediately after protection has been granted.
2. Member States shall ensure that activities such as employment-related education
opportunities for adults, vocational training, including training courses for upgrading
skills, practical workplace experience and counselling services afforded by
employment offices, are offered to beneficiaries of international protection, under
equivalent conditions as nationals.
3. Member States shall endeavour to facilitate full access for beneficiaries of
international protection to the activities referred to in paragraph 2.
4. The law in force in the Member States applicable to remuneration, access to social
security systems relating to employed or self-employed activities and other conditions
of employment shall apply.
Article 28 Access to procedures for recognition of qualifications
1. Member States shall ensure equal treatment between beneficiaries of international
protection and nationals in the context of the existing recognition procedures for
foreign diplomas, certificates and other evidence of formal qualifications.
2. Member States shall endeavour to facilitate full access for beneficiaries of
international protection who cannot provide documentary evidence of their
qualifications to appropriate schemes for the assessment, validation and accreditation
of their prior learning. Any such measures shall comply with Articles 2(2) and 3(3) of
Directive 2005/36/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 7 September
2005 on the recognition of professional qualifications.
Annex2
DIRECTIVE 2013/33/EU OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL
of 26 June 2013 laying down standards for the reception of applicants for international
protection (recast)
Article 15 Employment
1. Member States shall ensure that applicants have access to the labour market no later
than 9 months from the date when the application for international protection was
lodged if a first instance decision by the competent authority has not been taken and
the delay cannot be attributed to the applicant.
2. Member States shall decide the conditions for granting access to the labour market
for the applicant, in accordance with their national law, while ensuring that applicants
have effective access to the labour market.
For reasons of labour market policies, Member States may give priority to Union
citizens and nationals of States parties to the Agreement on the European Economic
Area, and to legally resident third-country nationals.
3. Access to the labour market shall not be withdrawn during appeals procedures,
where an appeal against a negative decision in a regular procedure has suspensive
effect, until such time as a negative decision on the appeal is notified.
Article 16 Vocational training
1. Member States may allow applicants access to vocational training irrespective of
whether they have access to the labour market.
2. Access to vocational training relating to an employment contract shall depend on the
extent to which the applicant has access to the labour market in accordance with
Article 15.
Annex3
Transparent employment relationships
Code of conduct
Even if the situations in the EFFAT sectors are different, trade unions can promote a Code of
Conduct for transparent employment relationships applicable to ALL workers regardless of
their status.
The aim of the code of conduct is to raise awareness and promote a climate of zero
tolerance of labour exploitation at the workplace.
This includes for example (not all may be applicable in the Agriculture sector):
•
All workers shall be given a written contract in a language they can understand
clearly, at least as regards the basic terms of their employment
•
Every worker shall have the right to join a union and bargain collectively for fair pay
and fair conditions of employment
•
The contract of employment shall clearly state the rate of pay, how and at what
intervals wages shall be paid (at least once per month), and ensure that this is done
in a transparent and documented manner
•
All workers shall be entitled to equal treatment and opportunities, including equal pay
for work of equal value in the same workplace
•
The duration of the contract of employment shall be clearly stated. Any change to the
agreed duration of the contract shall be by mutual consent and in writing
•
The contract shall clearly state the rate of pay and how it will be calculated
•
Hours of work and paid annual leave during the assignment shall be clearly defined
•
For posted workers, the contract shall state how transport and housing costs will be
paid
•
The contract shall state how social security protection benefits will be paid and where
•
Workers shall not pay recruitment fees or other intermediate fees in the recruitment
process
•
All workers shall be given access to information about their rights and to the health
and safety regulations in the workplace in a language that they can understand
clearly
•
All workers shall be given the same work and protective clothing, equipment,
inductions and training as required