UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, brings together business and refugees to showcase the mutual benefits from refugees’ inclusion in socioeconomic life.
One of the most common misconceptions about refugees is that they all have a low educational level, live on handouts and may be a burden for society. The reality, however, is different. Refugees may have had to leave everything behind, but what they carry with them throughout is a wealth of skills and experience, and a strong desire to work and contribute to the economic life of their new communities. But their potential needs to be unlocked and realised.
Recognizing the vital role of the private sector and other actors to this effort, UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, gathered on 13 February in Athens representatives of the government, the private sector, the diplomatic community, NGOs and refugees themselves to discuss how best to ensure that refugees can be integrated in their host country and become a factor of economic growth and innovation.
“We have a business proposition for you. A proposition that involves the skills of some of the 60,000 refugees currently in Greece”, said Maria Clara Martin, UNHCR Representative in Greece, in addressing the more than 25 company representatives in the room. “Study after study has shown that, if properly supported, refugees can add unique value to businesses. Diverse workforces increase productivity and stimulate innovation”, she added.
In a message sent to the meeting, Deputy Minister of Migration and Asylum in charge of Integration Sofia Voultepsi emphasized that refugee integration brings benefits to all: refugees, companies that have access to skilled workforce, the Greek economy and society.
The keynote speech of the evening was delivered by the US Ambassador to Greece, George Tsunis, who explained how connecting refugees to employers can give hope, create jobs and strengthen economic opportunities in Greece. “By hiring a refugee, employers show that their organization cares. They care about the quality of their products and services, the diversity of the workforce, the society. They show that they care about the need for every person to have dignified and meaningful work.”, he noted.
During the event, a new partnership between UNHCR and the UN Global Compact Network Hellas, which includes more than 60 businesses in the Greek private sector, was officially announced. This initiative aims at incentivizing the private sector to play a stronger role in the socioeconomic inclusion of refugees.
And this is not just out of charity. According to Panagiota Lampropoulou, Executive Director of the UN Global Compact Network Hellas: “Workforce diversity is directly linked with productivity and the achievement of financial goals. The world arounds us is changing and many businesses acknowledge this diversity as an opportunity”.
A large part of the evening focused on the key role of the private sector in creating and increasing employment opportunities for refugees, with examples from large and small companies in different parts of the world, while representatives from the private sector, refugee communities and NGO partners gave real examples of success stories from refugee integration in the workplace.
UNHCR showcased tools and solutions designed to facilitate business engagement with refugee integration and employability. Together with its partner Catholic Relief Services (CRS), UNHCR presented their online job-matching platform connecting refugees looking for a job in Greece with prospective employers country-wide.
The event concluded with Julien Makalu, a refugee entrepreneur, who narrated the challenges and opportunities he faced on his journey towards integration in Greece. “My call to the business sector is to not forget refugees in their decision-making and their job offers. I hope that among you, there are people who will change other people’s lives, just as some people once helped me change mine”, he said.
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