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Développement économique et création locale d’emplois (LEED)

Partnerships for Labour Market Inclusion

 

PARTNERSHIPS FOR LABOUR MARKET INCLUSION

Study Visit for Local Development Practitioners to
Territorial Employment Pacts in Austria

 

28 – 30 September 2009, Innsbruck, Austria

 

The issue / The Study Visit / Contact

 

The Issue

One of the aims of our societies is to ensure that all members participate in economic activity and thus share the fruits of growth. Active participation in the labour market is considered as an important factor of accomplishment and self-esteem in our societies, and it contributes to social cohesion and stability. However, in many countries, regions and localities, the conditions for labour market inclusion for all are not met, despite implementation of policy reforms and other initiatives. Marginalisation affects certain groups of the population and certain geographical areas (e.g. minorities and people with a migration background, non- or less educated persons, children raised in socially deprived family situations, urban areas where these groups concentrate), and this problem appears to transcend the various phases of the business cycle.

The issues of exclusion and marginalisation are complex and unlikely to disappear in the foreseeable future. The global economic crisis has increased the likelihood that more people will enter the vicious circle of low income and labour market exclusion.

Partnerships and labour market inclusion

Inclusion in the labour market is a cross-cutting issue, touching upon the responsibility of institutions in charge of social policies, employment, education, integration, housing, transport, legal issues and economic development. The effective collaboration of these institutions is thus required. Many countries have now started to set up, favour or use already existing partnerships to focus on social integration by combining resources and knowledge of different stakeholders.

The Austrian Territorial Employment Pacts (TEPs) have been invited by the Austrian Ministry of Labour, Social Inclusion and Consumer Protection to establish measures for active labour market integration of marginalised groups. This is done within the framework of the European Social Fund operational programme 2007-2013. The first results are promising, and a second call is being issued for 2010.

 

The Study Visit

The OECD LEED Forum on Partnerships and Local Governance organised a study visit for a selected group of local development practitioners to review the labour market inclusion experience of Austrian Territorial Employment Pacts (TEPs). The study visit provided opportunities to meet with people responsible for the TEP co-ordination in Tirol and in Austria, as well as with TEP Tirol partners and project promoters. In particular, the study visit offered the possibility to:

  • Get insights about the TEPs labour market integration strategies and programmes, their rationale, development and how barriers to their effective implementation have been addressed;
  • Learn about the organisational and funding structure of Austrian TEPs within the framework of the ESF; and,
  • Network with people running local social inclusion projects.

Agenda

Day 1, afternoon

After a networking welcome lunch, the first afternoon of the study visit was dedicated to a detailed presentation of the Austrian wide public policy support for Territorial Employment Pacts within the framework of the European Social Fund. The strategy developed by the TEP Tirol served as a concrete example and some of the key labour market integration activities were discussed as case studies.

 Introduction: OECD LEED and OECD LEED Forum on Partnerships and Local Governance activities, by Jana Machačová (ZSI)

 Social inclusion in the times of crisis, by Emma Clarence, Policy Analyst, OECD LEED Trento Centre

 The Austrian TEP Policy within the framework of the European Social Fund, by Michael Förschner (ZSI)

 The strategy developed by TEP Tirol, by Rainer Fellner (AMG Tirol)

Day 2

Selected key labour market integration initiatives undertaken by TEP Tirol were put “under the lens” on the second days of the study visit. The in-dept analysis included achievements and challenges  encountered. Two site visits allowed participants to gain insights into how projects were managed and how communication with beneficiaries worked.

Day 3, morning

In a concluding morning session participants drew key learning points from the review of strategies and projects. Special attention was given to issues of transferability. Possible follow-up activities in participating countries or regions were identified.

Download the agenda.

Who

Policy makers and practitioners directly involved in the design, implementation and evaluation of regional/local strategies for labour market inclusion.

Working language

English.

Photo Gallery

The discussions

 

The study visits

 

The group

 

 

 

 

 

Contact and Information

For more information on the study visit, please contact Mr. Michael Förschner at ZSI – Centre for Social Innovation, Vienna, foerschner@zsi.at.

 

 

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