Mobilization, complex development strategy and transit-protected work places are as important as sensitization and fighting against discrimination in the labour market- according to the participants of the RARE meeting. Experts, employers and governance had a lively, active and sometimes emotional debate on this issue for two days.

RARE kick-off meeting was organized on 22nd and 23rd of February 2017 in Budapest, Hungary. The meeting was hosted by the Lead Partner- Hungarian Charity Service of the Oder of Malta with participation of representatives of project partners, interested organizations and bodies, experts and journalists.

Lack of workforce, lack of connection

On a round-table meeting the State Secretary of Ministry of Human Capacities, the State Secretary of Ministry for National Economy and the Head of Public Work department of the Interior Ministry discussed the labour market situation of the region. They talked about the opportunities of the Roma community, the tasks and challenges of the employers and the governance. They drew attention to the importance of mobilization, the complex development strategy and the transit-protected work places on the labour market. They also highlighted the current employee shortage on the industrial area.

International challenges

According to the reports of the partners the image of Roma community is full of prejudice almost everywhere. Media often show a false image of Roma people, media represent them as: poor, lazy, talented musicians, exotic and problematic people.

International partners brought good practises from the labour market from each country to show the opposite of this picture. The best 8 labour market initiatives- such as Electronical Waste Plant or Roma Home Restaurant- will be visited by thematic experts.

Tasks for the next months

During the kick-off meeting the Joint Secretariat, the Lead Partner and all work package Leaders introduced the work packages of the project – their management, activities, workflow and deadlines for the next 30 months. The project partners discussed in details the whole project implementation, next steps and the most important tasks for the first period of the project implementation.

It was just the first step of a prosperous project.  We will continue our cooperation in Bucharest in Romania, in May.