EUKN - European Urban Knowledge Network - Changing perceptions of immigrations: from threat to opportunity

Changing perceptions of immigrations: from threat to opportunity - AT

Introduction

Since the early 1990s, the number of immigrants in the region of Upper Austria has grown steadily. Following the eastern enlargement of the European Union, a new wave of immigrants was expected. The Living and Working Together project, which ran from 2002 to 2005, brought together nine key regional actors. They all shared the concern that Austrians’ negative attitudes to immigration would hamper the region’s capacity to seize the opportunities from the opening up of the labour market. A well-targeted and diversified information campaign was launched to raise the public’s awareness about xenophobia and racism, as well as the economic benefits of a cross-border labour market. Most of the activities piloted by Living and Working Together have been continued as part of mainstream programmes in Upper Austria.

Problem

The number of foreign residents in Upper Austria has grown by 40 per cent since the early 1990s, now representing more than 7 per cent of the region’s population. The most significant immigrant groups come from former Yugoslavia (53 per cent) and Turkey (17 per cent). Against this background, the eastern enlargement of the EU and the dismantling of the border with the Czech Republic fermented fears among the population about a new wave of immigration.

Description

The Living and Working Together project had two main objectives:

reducing the attitudinal, structural and legal barriers that have a negative effect on the integration and equal treatment of migrants and ethnic minorities in the regional labour market
raising awareness of the opportunities emerging from the opening-up of the labour market in the border region and developing the district of Mühlviertel as an economically strong and socially integrative business area.

The project was managed by the regional branch of the Austrian Trade Union Federation, based in the city of Linz. Its partners included the Chamber of Employers, the Chamber of Workers, the regional government and relevant non-governmental organisations (NGOs).

Approach

The activities of Living and Working Together were organised in four different modules:

Module 1: Research on the situation of both ‘traditional’ and ‘new’ migrants and ethnic minorities in the labour market of Upper Austria
The Institute of Sociology at the University of Linz conducted a comprehensive study on the current situation and on expectations related to the EU enlargement and their implications for the regional trans-border labour market. The study provided up-to-date information on the employment situation and socio-demographic characteristics of ethnic minorities and migrants, perceived discriminations, the potential for cross-border migration and the attitudes of the population in Upper Austria. The results and recommendations of the study informed the activities in the other modules.

Module 2: Strategies to counteract manifest and latent forms of racism and xenophobia towards ‘traditional’ migrants in Upper Austria
The activities under this module were implemented by Migrare, a NGO providing multi-lingual advice and practical support on integration-related issues to migrants. Migrare set up a central Anti-Racism Contact Point (ARAS) to identify, document, and follow racist/xenophobic incidents. She also hosted a series of workshops to raise the public’s sensitivity to racism, stimulating a sustainable process of reflection upon these issues and empower minority groupings. In addition, Migrare improved migrants’ access to the internet and their ICT skills.

Module 3: Preparing for the emerging labour market in the border region
The Regional Management of the EUREGIO launched an action programme to inform people about the new perspectives that the opening up of the regions on both sides of the border will generate and to stimulate debate and discussion about this new situation. Activities included information seminars, developing an internet-based regional information platform, workshops on issues linked to the opening of the labour market and setting up an mobile exhibition on the mutual labour history of the Czech Republic and Austria..

Module 4: Developing a model for equal representation of the interests of workers of non-EU nationality, both within individual enterprises and at a higher level
The regional trade union piloted new approaches to involving workers of non-EU nationality in the processes of democratic decision making in enterprises. Preparatory work included the analysis of relevant national and EU legislation, the identification of inconsistencies and the exploration of good practice in other Member States. The outcomes were summarised in a brochure, together with a short presentation of the role and tasks of relevant institutions. As a next step, a new type of training course was developed, involving foremen and their fellow workers from migrant or ethnic minority backgrounds.

Results

There is now a more open attitude towards cross-frontier cooperation amongst employers in the border area, especially amongst small and medium-sized enterprises. They have a much stronger interest in exploring the potential of the new market.

The strategic partners, who included the Chamber of Employers, the Chamber of Workers, the regional Government and relevant NGOs, helped to ensure that most of the project activities will be continued as part of mainstream programmes in Upper Austria.

An important success factor of the project was the creation of a common platform for planning and action that involved all the relevant stakeholders. This structure and the direct involvement of the regional government gave the project greater recognition and, in turn, stimulated the accountability and commitment of the individual partners. The cooperative working and information processes within the partnership created a climate of mutual trust helping to achieve effective outcomes.

EU involvement

The Living and Working Together project was co-financed by the EQUAL Initiative. The total budget was 1.8 million euros, of which 0.9 million euros was provided by EQUAL.

Contact info

ÖGB Oberösterreich (lead partner)
Rudolf Diensthuber (Secretary for migration and EU projects), tel. +43 732 665391 ext. 6017

Project start date

/09/2002

Links

Visit the website of ÖGB Oberösterreich (in German)Visit the website of the EQUAL Initiative

Document type

case

Themes

Urban Policy > Social inclusion & integration > Equality

Keywords

Employment Equality