EUKN - European Urban Knowledge Network - MoniQ project - Multiculturalism as a strength on the work floor

MoniQ project - Multiculturalism as a strength on the work floor

Introduction

Finland seeks to better use the labour market potential of immigrants residing in the country. The immigrant unemployment rate is 28 per cent, high when compared to the 9 per cent national average. MoniQ is an initiative of the Finnish Ministry of Labour, which, at a national level, coordinates local and regional labour market development projects. Aim of MoniQ is to prepare Finnish workplaces for multiculturalism in order to promote the integration of immigrants in Finland through work. A second aim is to make Finnish employers more attractive to high skilled labour market immigrants, in order to create competitive edge. A strong attribute of MoniQ is that it presents multiculturalism as a positive notion: Multiculturalism brings new ideas into the workplaces.

Problem

About 110 000 immigrants are currently living in Finland. There is strong international competition for skilled labour. A challenge facing the Finnish economy is how to respond to this competition, but it is also a challenge to use to the full the immigrant labour already in Finland. As competition gets more fierce, those employers who have prepared and developed their staff and workplace for multiculturalism will have a competitive edge. This development must be supported.

Immigrants are an under-utilized resource in labour market. In recent years the employment situation of immigrants has improved. Nevertheless, the immigrant unemployment rate is still 28 %, whereas the national average is 9 %. MoniQ strongly supports a labour policy strategy that fosters more equitable labour markets, a more open atmosphere, and higher employment levels. Multiculturalism will be turned into a strength.

Description

Moniq is a product development initiative of the Finnish Ministry of Labour, which, at a national level, coordinates local and regional development projects. Moniq’s objective is to create tools and operational models, which promote the integration of immigrants into working life and Finnish society.

Moniq helps work communities enjoy the added value accruing from multiculturalism. Development occurs by learning from project experiences and by comparing the activities of different projects.

Moniq’s network already embraces 30 development projects.

Approach

The key targets of this national initiative are labour authorities as well as officials responsible for administering projects. Initially, MoniQ focussed on needs analyses, creating a common network, dissemination of information, and the launching of its new concept. The network of entities cooperating and developing models will grow as projects finish and new ones start. In 2005/2006 MoniQ will model relevant activities, and both disseminate and instil the knowledge and operational models produced by the projects.

SPREAD GOOD PRACTICES FAR AND WIDE
MoniQ heightens the networking capabilities and cooperation between project teams, labour administrators and other agents. The objective of this initiative, together with other projects to enhance the employment prospects of immigrants, is to develop models of good work practices. MoniQ also utilises experiences and models acquired from partners abroad.

THE MODELLING PROCESS CREATES NEW TOOLS
Operational models are constructed from concrete models, which various projects have developed and found to be good. The goal is to find the essence of good practice, which can then be easily moulded for different needs and incorporated into normal administrative and workplace operations. These prototypes give Employment and Economic Development Centre, local employment Offices, employers and trainers useful tools to work with. MoniQ’s partners in the development and modelling work are the Association of Finnish Local and Regional Authorities, labour and employer associations, the Ethnic Relations Committee, and other product development projects. MoniQ also benefits from the project work done by the labour authorities.

Areas for which modelling tools are created:

Training
Support measures for work communities and recruitment processes
The services of local employment offices
Services for individuals difficult to integrate into and retain in the workforce.

EU involvement

The initiative is partly ESF funded, and will operate 1.4.2003–31.12.2006.

Contact info

The Finnish Ministry of Labour
Finland
Ms. Eva Lindberg (Project coordinator), tel. +358 (0)10 60 4001

Project start date

01/04/2003

Links

MoniQ project website

Document type

case

Themes

Urban Policy > Social inclusion & integration > Equality

Keywords

Racial Equality, Employment Equality

Institutional characteristics
National Government