Employers and refugees are taking part in a discussion group on the Greek labour market in the context of the job fair held in Thessaloniki by SolidarityNow and UNHCR. ©SolidarityNow/ Nansy Papingi
A job fair organized on 13 March by SolidarityNow and UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, in Thessaloniki, wrapped up successfully with more than 230 jobs offered so far after some 770 interviews. The event aimed to connect refugees and asylum-seekers in search of work opportunities, with employers from various companies operating in northern Greece.
Organized at the Blue Refugee Centre*, the Job Fair aligns with both organizations’ strategic goal to promote refugee employability, supporting the Government’s National Integration Strategy, thereby benefitting not only refugees but also the Greek economy and society at large.
During the event, the 279 participating refugees and asylum-seekers had the opportunity to have interviews with 15 employers from diverse business sectors, including tourism and industry, eager to strengthen and increase their workforce.
With step-by-step guidance and support, participants had the opportunity to draft their CV on the spot, receive information on employment rights and obligations, before going through interviews with participating companies. Additionally, two discussion groups were held to inspire and offer practical advice to refugees wishing to access the job market.
Shaaima, a mother of three, came to Greece in 2018 from Iraq and despite the hardships she faced, she is now opening her own restaurant in Thessaloniki with tasteful fusions from Arabic and Greek cuisine. During her inspirational speech at the “Women refugees at work” discussion group, Shaima encouraged all women to believe in themselves and trust that they are capable to make their own decisions: “Every woman is a knight and a poet. If a woman looks at her soul, she will see that”, she said.
Ola, a young woman from Sierra Leone who has been in Greece for one and a half year now, described her own experience during the discussion group “Refugees and the Greek labour market: A discussion between employers and candidates”.
“For me, hope is patience. You have to take one step at a time. Give yourself credit, believe in yourself”, she said, trying to motivate refugee women in Greece who may feel lost and hopeless. As for practical advice, Ola suggests that refugees living in Greece reach out to local organizations for support and guidance. “My first step was to go to the Blue Refugee Centre. They helped me there”. Ola received a job offer from a hotel this summer, while working for her long-term dream to become a real estate agent.
Over 770 interviews between company representatives and potential employees were conducted during the job fair at the Blue Refugee Centre ©SolidarityNow/Nansy Papingi
During the job fair 110 CVs of refugees and asylum-seekers were prepared on the spot. ©SolidarityNow/Nansy Papingi
From right: Ola, a refugee from Sierra Leone, Efthymios Xatzitheoklitos, Vice Mayor of Thessaloniki for Social Policy, Solidarity and Welfare, Mahir Safarli, Deputy Representative of UNHCR, Eirini Kagiampini, Deputy Mayor of Neapoli-Sykies for Social Protection and Equality, Employment, Vocational Guidance, Volunteering and Health Promotion and Dora Kokozidou from UNHCR office in Thessaloniki, during the opening of the discussion group “Refugees and the Greek labour market: A discussion between employers and candidates”. © UNHCR/Lefteris Konstantopoulos
From right: Shaaima, Nana and Awa together with a SolidarityNow employee join the group discussion on "Refugee women at work" ©SolidarityNow/Nansy Papingi
Refugees are sharing their employment experiences during a side discussion on the Greek labour market held in the context of the job fair organized at the Blue Refugee Centre in Thessaloniki. © UNHCR/Lefteris Konstantopoulos
During the job fair UNHCR also presented the Adama Job-Matching Platform, a useful online tool connecting refugees looking for a job in Greece with prospective employers country-wide. ©SolidarityNow/Nansy Papingi
On their side, all employers that participated in the discussions expressed their gratitude to SolidarityNow and UNHCR for their initiative to promote refugee employability. While they all referred to the administrative barriers that undermine and often prevent companies from hiring refugees and asylum seekers, they praised the skills and work ethics of refugees in Greece, which, they explained, is why they participated in the job fair, looking to hire more.
“The company bus transferring workers to the construction site never had to wait even for five minutes. They never neglected the safety measures. They always had a positive attitude”, said a company representative from the construction sector, praising the astonishing work ethics of his refugee colleagues.
During the event, UNHCR also presented the Adama Job-Matching Platform, a useful online tool designed by UNHCR and CRS Greece, connecting refugees looking for a job in Greece with prospective employers country-wide.
The event was honoured with the presence and participation of Mr. Efthymios Xatzitheoklitos, Vice Mayor of Thessaloniki on Social Policy, Solidarity and Welfare, and Ms Eirini Kagiampini, Deputy Mayor of Neapoli-Sykies on Social Protection and Equality, Employment, Vocational Guidance, Volunteering and Health Promotion. Both local officials praised the long and fruitful cooperation with UNHCR and its partners on refugee integration, through the implementation of innovative projects.
Notes for the editors:
*The Blue Refugee Centre operates in Thessaloniki by SolidarityNow, in partnership with UNHCR and UNICEF, and aims to support refugees and asylum-seekers by providing a variety of services facilitating their integration. You can find more information here.
A few words about the UNHCR Hope Away From Home Campaign
“Hope Away from Home” is a three-year global UNHCR campaign calling for renewed solidarity and firm commitments from states to uphold the rights of people seeking safety from war, violence and persecution. Granting access to asylum, family reunification, access to employment and education are all ways states can show people fleeing war, violence, and persecution that there is hope away from home. In Greece, UNHCR works with the government, municipalities, civil society, refugee communities and the private sector to promote policies and programmes facilitating refugee integration and their access to employment and livelihoods, so that refugees can thrive in and contribute to their new home.
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