Saxony is looking for truly long-lasting solutions to effectively integrate immigrants into the Saxon education, training and employment market. Already, some schemes are successfully bringing together foreign workers and Saxon companies.
Immigration and integration
Saxony invests in lasting integration
Integration has become a key topic in Saxony. Successful immigration is an opportunity for the state. It not only brings economic profit but, above all, makes society stable and fit for the future.
The Saxon labour market mentors
People who have fled their home country to escape war and violence, and are forced to start again from scratch, need social support and connections. One crucial aspect of this is a job, to give them self-esteem and economic independence. The Saxon labour market mentor programme helps refugees from any country of origin who have sufficient language skills and fulfil the legal prerequisites for accessing the labour market.
There are already more than 60 labour market mentors in Saxony. Found in every urban and rural district, they come to the aid of refugees embarking on their career. This involves helping them start necessary vocational training or acquire qualifications, find a job, integrate into corporate processes and deal with visits to the authorities and job interviews.
The mentors also give employers practical assistance and advice as they navigate the integration process, overcoming the hurdles and problems on both sides.
The website arbeitsmarktmentoren-sachsen.de provides information on the content and progress of the 14 sub-projects. The Saxon Refugee Council (Sächsischer Flüchtlingsrat e. V.) offers this model project expert backing, supporting the mentors and scientifically analysing what is learned on the project to identify best-practice examples and possible pitfalls.
So far, more than 2,300 people have already taken part in the project. Saxon companies have already recruited 733 refugees, and another 542 have undergone training or obtained proof of their qualifications. In many Saxon companies, the recruitments have been such a success that other refugees have also been employed.
“Legal work under fair conditions, with all employees treated equally” – the BABS motto.
BABS advice centre for international employees in Saxony
This counselling scheme for employees from other EU countries is committed to fair, legal working conditions and is the point of contact for questions on labour law and social legislation. On one hand, this protects workers against exploitation and price dumping; on the other hand, it deters unfair competition.
BABS supports all employees from other EU countries who are seconded to Saxony, who want to work in Saxony or who already work here. Their family members can also be given advice. The scheme is not only available in German and English, but also in Polish, Romanian, Slovak, Czech and Hungarian. BABS has permanent advice centres in Dresden and Leipzig. The scheme is also active throughout Saxony and can be reached by telephone and e-mail.