The Association of Employers of Slovenia won the project "Encouraging the employment of third-country nationals through social dialogue (Recruit4Tomorrow)" at the tender of the European Commission (SocPL), the purpose of which is to examine in detail the labour markets of the participating countries and to look for areas where the needs of the labour markets can be met by employing nationals from third countries. The project will contribute to social dialogue in responding to changes in employment and work-related challenges and will strengthen the capacities of social partners for more effective cooperation in the design and implementation of policies in this area.

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

The labour market and employment relationships in the EU are faced with a change of paradigm, with the population ageing and imbalances between supply and demand, which, alongside the epidemic, causes a reduction in the number of workers and the formation of new HR management approaches. Although intra-EU mobility is legally well-regulated and well-established, the EU labour market is experiencing a major labour shortage. Employers are seeking for labour force outside the EU; in doing so they are facing numerous challenges: administrative barriers, long procedures, language barriers, integration difficulties, mistrust of trade unions and citizens in general, etc. EU and national social partners play an important role in establishing new labour market relationships and in policy-making related to the employment of third-country nationals.

The project "Encouraging Employment of third-country Nationals through Social Dialogue" will examine in detail the labour markets of participating countries and search for areas, where labour markets’ needs can be addressed through the employment of third-country nationals.

Through two main phases - (1) the analytical phase and (2) learning, knowledge exchange and dissemination - project partners and other labour market stakeholders will gain better insight into the challenges that the new rattled ecosystem will cause to the decision-making process, consultations, employment changes, future of work, and modernization of the labour market. Also, they will gain knowledge to improve their involvement in the national economic governance processes and enhance their contribution to EU policy-making to increase labour market resilience and better adapt to changes. The project will contribute to social dialogue in responding to changes in employment and work-related challenges and strengthen the capacity of social partners to more effectively cooperate in creating and implementing policies in this field.

PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION
Projekt Recruit4Tomorrow bo te izzive/vrzeli naslavljal skozi tri glavne faze:

1. Throughout the analytical phase, the project will focus on topics/areas where labour market needs can be addressed through the employment of third-country nationals: regional and bilateral employment agreements, measures related to the employment of third-country nationals, nationals in deficit occupations, talent pool - recognition of informal knowledge (which is not part of formal education), agency work, remote work (EU - third countries), examples of good practices. The partners will conduct theoretical research, focus groups and a survey among employers and exchange information with other EU countries.
2. Based on the findings of the research, several different measures will be put together to meet the needs of the labour market by employing third-country nationals. Joint recommendations for policy-makers will be prepared - as a starting point for negotiations at tripartite, sectoral and enterprise levels.
3. International and national events will be held to strengthen the capacity of labour market stakeholders in the field of employment of third-country nationals, as well as other dissemination activities.

PROJECT PARTNERSHIP

Employers' organizations:
ZDS - Association of Employers of Slovenia (project coordinator)
UL – University of Ljubljana (Slovenia)
BIA – Bulgarian Industrial Association (Bulgaria)
MGYOSZ – BusinessHungary (Hungary)
RUZ - Association of Employers of Slovakia (Slovakia)
HUP - Association of Employers of Croatia (Croatia)

Trade unions:
SGS – Svet gorenjskih sindikatov (Slovenia)
CITUB - Confederation of Independent Trade Unions in Bulgaria (Bulgaria)
VASAS – Hungarian Federation of Metalworkers (Hungary)
NKOS - Independent Christian Unions of Slovakia (Slovakia)
SING – Croatian Oil Industry Union (Croatia)

Associated partner:
BUSINESSEUROPE (Belgium)

With financial support from the European Union.

Project "Encouraging employment of third-country nationals through social dialogue - Recruit4Tomorrow" is co-founded by the European Union under grant agreement: GA 101102367.

Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the granting authority. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.