“BLACK OR WHITE?” SEMINARBUDAPEST, 9-11 FEBRUARY 2009

Michael FähndrichY.E.S. Forum / BAG EJSA

Contents: Youth social work:

Y.E.S. Forum (European Network) BAG EJSA (German Protestant Youth Social Work)

General overview on youth employment in Germany

Situation of young migrants in Germany

Y.E.S. Forum Acronym, that stands for Youth European

Social Work

Network of organisations working with children and young people across countries in the EU, whose common bound is commitment to social inclusion and active participation of all children and young people in all aspects of their lives and futures

It focuses on children and young people who experience disadvantage and exclusion

Y.E.S. Forum history Feb 2001: Development of the Y.E.S.

FORUM network infra-structure with 3 organisations from Italy, Germany and France

Now: 16 EEIG member organisations from 9 EU countries and 200 individual community members from 70 organisations in 16 countries

Y.E.S. Forum objectives and activities To encourage professional networking and exchange of

good practice amongst youth workers, social workers and other staff

To support peer-to-peer contact between young people from different European countries

To transfer experience and knowledge from the practical field to actively influence youth policy

Through:

Organising training, seminars and conferences that serve as space for exchange of good practice and critical thinking

To initiate and coordinate transnational projects with members’ involvement for practitioners and young people

Lobbying activities towards the European institutions

Youth social work in GermanyAims: Professional integration Social inclusion Participation

Areas of work: Helping young people in vocational training Work with young migrants Youth housing School social work Street work Gender specific youth social work

Vocational training helpLargest area of work Generic term for the vocational preparation

and vocational training e.g helps in the transition of the first (school

training) and second (training employment ) threshold.

Work with young migrants Promoting equal opportunities Opening and improving chances of integration Promoting the acceptance of migrants in the

society Consulting and monitoring adjusted to the

individual needs

Young people on the labour market1,2 Mio young people unemployed (10%) – rather good

situation compared to other EU countries… but: Often with short term contracts first to be fired Vocational training vacant positions decreasing

(in 2009 8,2% less than in 2008)

1,5 Mio young people between 20 und 29 (15%) have no vocational training qualification

“Transitional system” increasing Only 1/3 has chances to keep the job after the

vocational training Increase of illegal work and precarious employment

because of sinking wages.

Situation of young migrants Leaving school without certificate:

German – 6,5%, migrant – 16% Finding a vacant vocational training position

within 3 years: German – 86%, migrant – 68%

Finding a vacant vocational training position : German – 3 months, migrant – 17 months

Successful vocational training with obtaining certificate:

Boys: German – 68%, migrant – 29%Girls: German – 46%, migrant – 24%

Reasons and risks Reasons:

Lower social status (financial, social and cultural capital to support their children adequately in their education)

German school system (“gate-keeping “ function) Missing information and orientation of parents,

prejudices of the companies

Consequences: no qualifications/ low-skilled professions higher risk of becoming unemployed risk of poverty

StrategiesApproaches to improve the transition of the young people with

low educational qualifications and migrant background: Highly personalised, tailor-made support (coaching) with

professional staff; Involvement of families and promotion of culturally

sensitive skills beyond the childhood age; Close cooperation and networking between schools,

youth services, training systems and local companies. Reform of the three pillars school system Recognition of certificates from the country of origin Promoting participation rights of migrants in the society Liberatlisation of migration policy (work and stay permits) Intercultural opening of the society (also public services

and school system)

Illegal EmployemntReasons: why people work illegallyInternal: Unemployment, low

social welfare Low wages, precarious

work No work permit Low qualifications

External: Economic differences

within Europe Wage dumping –

employers try to lower costs

Increasing mobility of seasonal, low qualified workers etc.

Illegal EmploymentDimentions and ActionsBig problem in Germany, huge dimention:

60-70 Milliard €/year

Legal provisions: working and stay permit, e.g. for asylum seekers and irregular migrants

Assistance and help: NGO‘s, trade unions for migrant workers

Strict control: police and customs, e.g. on construction sites

Thank you for your attention!

www.yes-forum.euwww.bagejsa.de