Integration of asylum seekers, refugees and migrants
LABOUR-INT is a European partnership initiative promoting the integration of asylum seekers, refugees and other migrants into the European labour market. It brings together employers, chambers of commerce and industry, trade unions and migrant organizations to design and implement integration pathways that start from the early reception phase and continue through education, vocational training and job placement.
Across its three editions, the project has developed and tested models for multi-stakeholder cooperation, skills validation and matching, and local integration networks, building bridges between migration management and employment policies.
About LABOUR-INT
The starting point of LABOUR-INT has been the tripartite social summit in 2016, when, in the wake of the large arrivals of refugees in 2015, social partners recognised the importance of building stronger multi-stakeholder cooperation to support migrants integration.
This then led to the signature of the European Partnership for Integration, a long-standing partnership with the European Commission which was launched in 2017 and renewed in 2022. This cooperation between the Commission and the European social and economic partners has been key to developing innovative, practical solutions that support migrants and labour market actors across Europe.
Our Approach
LABOUR-INT aims to create value for all those involved: for migrants, asylum-seekers and refugees by adapting labour market instruments to their specific situation while ensuring equal treatment, and for businesses, trade unions, authorities and institutions by promoting a multi-stakeholder approach.
This approach is based on:
Network Building
Fostering multi-stakeholder cooperation at European, national, regional and local levels.
Capacity Building
Enhancing the ability of social and economic partners to design and implement integration frameworks.
Pilot Actions
Testing practical measures in different national contexts to achieve tangible and lasting results.
Skills Assessment
Improving tools and practices to better identify and connect professional skills with labour market needs.
Project Editions
LABOUR-INT has evolved through three editions, each building on the success of the previous one to create comprehensive integration pathways for migrants and refugees.
1st
LABOUR-INT I
The first edition focused on establishing pilot actions in Belgium, Germany, and Italy, creating multi-stakeholder partnerships.
2nd
LABOUR-INT II
Building on the first edition, the second edition expanded the network and developed comprehensive tools for skills assessment
3rd
LABOUR-INT II
The current edition (2024-2027) focuses on enhancing employment opportunities through welcoming services, skills matching
Networks & Projects
LABOUR-INT is connected with various European networks and initiatives working towards the same goal of effective labour market integration for migrants and refugees.