1. Globalisation in one Continent – Mobility for the benefit of all? EURES Mobility Conference Reykjavik June 22, 2007 Kevin Quinn Manager International Employment Services

2. EURES Mobility Conference  Kevin Quinn, Manager –International Employment Services  Responsible for;-  International Recruitment  Information for migrant workers  Policy in relation to the International Labour Market

3.  How we are where we are?  What was FAS response?  What is the response from ‘sending Countries’?  What more can be done? EURES Mobility Conference

4. How we are where we are EU Unemployment Rates 2005 EURES Mobility Conference

5. Irish Economic Facts  GDP Growth (2006)5.2%  GDP per Capita (2006)€39,018 ($52,000)  Irish GDP per Capita as % of EU 139%  Inflation (2006)4.0%  Current Account Deficit (2006)3.5% of GDP  Population (2006) 4.2 million  Average Full Time Wage (2006) €727  National Minimum Wage (Jan 2007) €8.30 per hour  Weekly Unemployment All. (Jan 2007) €185.80  Adult Dependent (Jan 2007) €123.30 EURES Mobility Conference

6.   Jobless growth during the 1980s   Huge Economic Growth during the 1990s   8.6% Average growth in GDP between 1995-2002   12% Growth in GDP in 2000   Another 5% in 2005 EURES Mobility Conference

7.  Large labour and skills shortages  Attractive wages and salaries  Welcoming attitude  Employers positive perception  Cheap flights EURES Mobility Conference

8. Favourable Demographics

9. Low Interest Rates Favourable Demographics

10. Productivity Low Interest Rates Favourable Demographics

11. Strong Housing Demand Productivity Low Interest Rates Favourable Demographics

12. Employment Strong Housing Demand Productivity Low Interest Rates Favourable Demographics

13. Tax Revenue Employment Strong Housing Demand Productivity Low Interest Rates Favourable Demographics

15.  Challenges: Irish Labour Market;  Labour Shortages;  Optimistic scenario- 50,000 shortage of all workers  Pessimistic Scenario- 70,000 shortage of all workers  60% skilled and qualified EURES Mobility Conference

16. PPSN Allocations Nationality May – December 2004 20052006January 2007* Total Poland25,22265,30593,9322,398 186,857 Lithuania11,41018,93215,972416 46,730 Latvia5,7699,412 7,934218 23,333 Slovakia4,5139,34210,695334 24,884 Czech Republic3,0614,545 4,436130 12,172 Hungary1,7533,104 4,345113 9,315 Estonia1,6372,025 1,40229 5,093 Slovenia6475 1011 241 Malta130125 1438 406 Cyprus2322 375 87 Romania 35341392 4,926 Bulgaria26847 315 Total53,582112,887142,7995,091 314,359 * week commencing 13th January, 2007

17. To Twenty-five….and then? How far east?

18. To Twenty-five….and then? How far east?

19. To Twenty-five….and then? How far east?

20. To Twenty-five….and then? How far east?

21. To Twenty-five….and then? How far east?

22. To Twenty-five….and then? How far east?

23. What was FAS response?  Accession of A10 Countries in 2004  Open Borders – as UK  Numbers coming to Ireland - but % per capita 6 times greater in Ireland  FÁS Corporate Affairs & International Employment Services (EURES) Proposal EURES Mobility Conference

24. BASED ON OUR OWN EXPERIENCE  Solutions found through information  Campaign launched ‘ Don’t Go Before You Know’  British and Irish PES worked together  Likewise Germany, Netherlands etc.  Shared ownership- problems and successes EURES Mobility Conference

25. Research showed that young migrants  Had little or no preparation before leaving  Arrived with little or no money  Had no accommodation arranged  Had no idea about how to find a job  One in three were approached within 24 hours to get involved with crime EURES Mobility Conference

26.  Little pre departure preparation  No idea how to find jobs  No accommodation arranged  Little or no resources  No personal networks  No English EURES Mobility Conference

27.  FAS were ‘swamped’ with clients who could not communicate  Illegal recruitment agencies were operating  Exploitation was a real possibility  Health and Safety issues were ignored or not understood EURES Mobility Conference

28. FAS response  Training for all staff in intercultural issues  Developing the Know Before You Go Campaign  Introduction in all public offices of simultaneous language interpretation  Developing ‘Information Days’ for Communities  Developing close working relationships with relevant Ministries and Agencies of ‘sending countries EURES Mobility Conference

29. FAS response Contd…  Providing training for key staff from other countries in all aspects of living and working in Ireland  Offering an efficient and cost effective recruitment service to Irish employers  Running a parallel public session on all aspects of living and working in Ireland, employment rights etc to all candidates EURES Mobility Conference

30. Key features  Migrants will return to own country  Lack of integration  Homesickness  Working below skills level  Major language problems EURES Mobility Conference

31. Know Before You Go Campaign  Leaflets in 12 languages (+ English)  DVD in five main country languages – Poland Lithuania, Latvia, Slovakia & Czech Republic)  Information on FÁS Website  Cost – initial production €600,000 EURES Mobility Conference

32.  Attractive well produced (broadcast quality)  Aimed at young mobile jobseekers  Contains all relevant information in a logical sequence  Presented by ‘native’ young journalists based in Ireland EURES Mobility Conference

33.  Emigration a social/ political problem in many countries  Information nevertheless is still vital EURES Mobility Conference

34.  ‘Open days’ have been run and are planned  Lithuanian planning a series of information  Polish also but with recruitment aspect  FAS arranging Country specific events  More emphasis on retention than migration in A 8 EURES Mobility Conference

35. What more can be done…….  Migrants grow the economy by 1 ½ % for every 1% increase in the labour force  If working at their skills level economy would grow by up to 3 ½%  Language barriers must be addressed  24 hour help line made available  Greater efforts made to get information to potential migrants EURES Mobility Conference

36.  Employers need to integrate migrants at all levels  Communities need to be more proactive  Support should be provided at ‘official’ and NGO level to assist new arrivals  English language training should be provided EURES Mobility Conference

37.  ‘Sending’ countries must acknowledge the need for pre-departure information  Sending countries must give support to relevant NGOs (Ireland also)  Shared problem and shared opportunity EURES Mobility Conference

38. Thank you! EURES Mobility Conference