LIME: Coordination mechanisms in the field of migrants’ labour integration. The Italian experience

On May 19th, ALDA held its 3rd Capacity Building Workshop, entitled: “Coordination mechanisms in the field of migrants’ labour integration: the Italian experience”. The online webinar gathered 61 participants, mainly from Italy, spurring the creation and activation of cluster networks in this country; especially in Rome.

The event, moderated by Dolinda Cavallo from ALDA, was first of all the occasion to present both the LIME project and “CIES Onlus” –  the lead partner of the project. The event began with the opening speech of Elisabetta Bianca Melandri (CIES’ President), followed by Loredana Gionne’s contribution, focusing on the impact of the Covid-19 on the project as well as on the new challenges they had to face and successfully overcome!

Furthermore, the workshops got through many topics, such as migrants’ in Italy first and  Europe. Hence, Tatiana Esposito  – GD Migration and Integration policies of the Italian Ministry of Labour –  presented the interventions and projects implemented in Italy to foster migrants’ labour inclusion. She focused on the fact that labour integration plays a crucial role when helping migrants and refugees; while insisting on the necessity to ensure close cooperation between the institutions as well as private and public actors at all levels (national and local). Tatiana Esposito particularly emphasised the role of the cities, mentioning Rome as a good example.

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Spurring the creation and activation of cluster networks in this country; especially in Rome

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Afterwards, Angelique Petrits – Policy Officer at the European Commission – presented the European perspective by showing the Action Plan for Integration; its principles and key figures about employment and skills. In addition, she listed the most important areas of interventions of the Action Plan 2021 – 20217 approved by the European Commission to foster migrants’ inclusion:  education, training, health and housing.

The Action Plan is aimed to:

• Establish a stronger cooperation between labour market actors,
• Give more support to migrant entrepreneurs,
• Increase the participation of migrant women in the labour market, and much more!

Besides, participants had the chance to listen to the voice of the private sector through the presentation of Monia Dardi, Diversity & Inclusion expert at Adecco Foundation. She emphasised the importance of creating networks between the public and private sectors and how it is necessary to set up a systemic approach when it comes to improve the inclusion of migrants into the labour market.

Finally, benefitting from Folco Cimagalli – full professor of Sociology of Migrations at LUMSA University –  Cristiana di Pietro and Marco Mastrodascio – Researchers at LUMSA -, the webinar served as the opportunity to learn more about the MEIC – Migrants Economic Integration Cluster methodology. Based on the case of Rome, they highlighted the first achievements of the pilot project and pointed out the interventions for migrants’ labour integration through the activation and piloting of clusters.

In conclusion, Roberta Petrillo, Senior Migration Expert at CIES Onlus, and Dolinda Cavallo, Project Manager at ALDA, engaged participants in interactive activities to address several questions to the audience. The aim of the discussion was to  collect feedback and opinions from the participants as far as the coordination with other stakeholders in labour inclusion concerns, in order to then develop a MEIC toolkit – containing all tools and guidelines for the set-up of other successful vocation and entrepreneurial cluster initiatives.

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The LIME project  will organise two others events, take note already of the following dates!

• 9th of June, the International Capacity Building Workshop. You can already register HERE.
• 21st of June, the Final Conference of the LIME project. You can already register HERE.