The initiative combats exclusion by offering employment, socio-pedagogic assistance and care, thus helping long-term unemployed to reduce their personal, professional and social deficits .

In 1983, the association was founded by a group of social workers from Steyr to establish workshops for unemployed young people on the model of some projects already existing in Vienna. Fields of activities were renovation and (re)construction trade. The target group to be considered changed (according to the rates of unemployment) from young people to women and elderly people. New fields of activity were found and an advisory board was added. The initiative tried to start a project in the field of forestry (afforestation, sale of sawed timber) which failed.

Assistance of the Labour Market Service (AMS) and the >Institut für Arbeitsmarktberatung< (IFA) was gained to develop the project SPEKTRUM. A main difficulty in the beginning was to convince the Labour Market Service, enterprises or the community to support the project (by giving orders or financial support). In 1986/87 the AMS cut down its financial support which endangered the continuation of the project. Due to the assistance of the Platform for Social Projects Upper Austria the initiative survived this crisis.

Three stages can be distinguished: in the initial stage (three months) there is a clearing of handicaps and deficits of the participants and working out of solutions (20 % receive socio-pedagogic care and assistance). Within the following six months the participants start work res. are trained to work in building trade and renovation or in the improvement of urban public areas (renewing footpaths, playgrounds, etc.). Orders come from local enterprises or the Municipality of Steyr.

Participants get the possibility to work as practitioners in other enterprises (in this case the initiative has to bear the costs, the AMS does not support practitioners). In the final outplacement-phase the participants get help and support in finding durable employment. The rate of people in insertion varies between 25 and 60 %; the average rate is approx. 40 %.

Social and Indirect Effects
The combination of practical training, qualification and socio-pedagogic assistance helps the participants to acquire both technical skills and social skills, stabilise their situation, take responsibilities and thus reduce the problems that embedded employment so far. The initiative was the first of its kind in this very region with a comprehensive approach. Other projects (e.g. Rifa, Freiwaldwerkstätten, Proba) are oriented along the model of the association.

Assessment-Innovation-transferability
The regional advisory board (consisting of politicians, the chamber of trade and commerce) is evaluating the project; the initiative presents annual reports to the Labour Market Service. Innovation can be seen in the fact, that the initiative provides a solution in dealing with this difficult target group in the region. Transferability is given to other economic sectors as well.

Prospects
Changes in the organisation and the objectives of the initiative will be necessary due to reductions envisaged by the AMS. The transit work period will be reduced to 6 months, i.e. there is much pressure on the management to reach the objective of job-readiness for the participants within this shortened time, the focus has to be shifted from social work towards economic profitability. Presently, the concept is worked through and adapted to these changed circumstances, but it is quite clear that within this short time efficient socio-pedagogic care will become very difficult.

The general training of the transit workers will be reduced res. done on a voluntary basis. Other plans are to try to integrate women by finding job opportunities in the construction sector, since there are only few projects for women in the region. Organisational innovations in 1998 will emerge in the staff: 2 project managers, 2 special field-trainers, 1 social worker.

Verein für Arbeit, Beratung & Bildung (VABB)
Mr. Herbert Walzl (Project manager), tel. +43 7252 43 149

01/01/1983

case

Urban Policy > Economy knowledge & employment > Urban economy

Employment