Employing the Roma: Employing the Roma: Insights from BusinessInsights from Business

Andrey Ivanov, uman Development Advisor, UNDPAndrey Ivanov, uman Development Advisor, UNDP

Workshop on employment, European Roma Summit, Cordoba, Workshop on employment, European Roma Summit, Cordoba, April 2010April 2010

Europe and CIS

OutlineOutline

Business and vulnerable groupsBusiness and vulnerable groups Why business should be interested?Why business should be interested? E&Y report: ProcessE&Y report: Process E&Y report: E&Y report:

Results/RecommendationsResults/Recommendations E&Y report: Follow-up activitiesE&Y report: Follow-up activities Global Compact/CSRGlobal Compact/CSR

Europe and CIS

Business and vulnerable Business and vulnerable groupsgroups

Businesses are drivers of Businesses are drivers of employmentemployment

Labour market integration activities Labour market integration activities by government and civil societyby government and civil society

Businesses can complement effortsBusinesses can complement efforts Business case Business case Lack of practical guidanceLack of practical guidance

Europe and CIS

Why business should be Why business should be interested?interested?

Reputational RiskReputational Risk Waste of human resources and Waste of human resources and

productivityproductivity Sales increase with higher incomesSales increase with higher incomes Social tensionsSocial tensions Investment opportunitiesInvestment opportunities

Europe and CIS

E&Y report: ProcessE&Y report: Process

E&Y as trusted intermediary to E&Y as trusted intermediary to companiescompanies

Open interviews with selected Open interviews with selected companies that have equal companies that have equal opportunity measures in placeopportunity measures in place

Cost/benefit analysisCost/benefit analysis Recommendations for companies Recommendations for companies

Europe and CIS

E&Y report: ResultsE&Y report: Results

Positive case studies about equal opportunity Positive case studies about equal opportunity measures implemented in companiesmeasures implemented in companies

Diversity policy important but not sufficientDiversity policy important but not sufficient Managerial leadershipManagerial leadership Training and transportation packagesTraining and transportation packages Multisectoral cooperation, local partnershipsMultisectoral cooperation, local partnerships Promote role modelsPromote role models Share experiences with other businessesShare experiences with other businesses

Europe and CIS

E&Y report: Follow-up E&Y report: Follow-up activitiesactivities

Equal opportunity strategies on Equal opportunity strategies on companies’ agendacompanies’ agenda

Roma employment is a priority: re-Roma employment is a priority: re-launch in Hungary and other launch in Hungary and other countries and implementation in countries and implementation in volunteering companiesvolunteering companies

Regular business forum to share and Regular business forum to share and discuss experience and strategiesdiscuss experience and strategies

Europe and CIS

Global Compact/CSRGlobal Compact/CSR

Global Compact as a platform for Global Compact as a platform for companies to embrace, support and companies to embrace, support and enact a set of core values in the areas of enact a set of core values in the areas of human rights, labour standards, human rights, labour standards, environment and anti-corruption environment and anti-corruption

EC focus: Diversity at the Workplace EC focus: Diversity at the Workplace (age, ethnicity, sex, disabled)(age, ethnicity, sex, disabled)- - CEE countries lag behind EU-15CEE countries lag behind EU-15

- Increased competition -> raise to top (CSR - Increased competition -> raise to top (CSR opportunities)opportunities)

- Companies interested, need support- Companies interested, need support

Europe and CIS

Thank you!Thank you!

Bratislava Regional CenterBratislava Regional Center

35 Grosslingova 35 Grosslingova

81109 Bratislava, Slovak Republic81109 Bratislava, Slovak Republic

http://www.undp.org/europeandcishttp://www.undp.org/europeandcis

http://www.unglobalcompact.org