High but surmountable hurdles for refugees
Young refugees come to Switzerland with a variety of prerequisites. In order for them to gain a foothold in the world of work, they need appropriate programmes in addition to their own commitment. Social worker Marion Eberwein works at Impulsis, the competence centre for the professional integration of young people in challenging situations. She manages the motivation semester, a programme designed to enable young people to gain work experience and an apprenticeship in various companies.
The exchange with various SMEs is therefore a central part of her professional commitment. It gives her a comprehensive view of the current situation in the professional world and thus of the sectors that are suffering from an acute shortage of apprentices. The fact that they recruit refugees as potential employees happens, but is the exception.
«On the other hand, many companies are happy to give young refugees a chance, provided they have the necessary skills,» says Elisabeth Fent, Head of the Startbahn department at Impulsis. «The prerequisite is that they can communicate in German. It is also important that career starters are reliable and have a friendly demeanour.» Key competences that are equally required of all young people entering the labour market.
Young men want to earn money as quickly as possible. There is no time for training.
Elisabeth Fent, integration expert
At Impulsis, Fent and Eberwein have so far helped people from Eritrea, Syria, Afghanistan and Turkey to enter the labour market. One Syrian woman who Eberwein accompanied quickly realised that she had the same opportunities as young people who had grown up here. «She had finished school in her home country and was fluent in the language.»
When did they flee? What did the young people, who were often travelling for a long time, experience? Are they traumatised? «This knowledge provides information on where to start in terms of vocational training,» says Fent. There is also a strong focus on education in Switzerland; a priority that is not always shared.
Social isolation as a problem
Minors who have fled are often sent off with the burden of financially supporting the family they left behind as quickly as possible. «Then it's clear for these mostly young men: they want to work and earn money as quickly as possible. There is no time to complete an apprenticeship, even if that would probably be the more profitable option in the long term,» says Fent. Their need is then existential and the pressure is great - a circumstance that requires understanding.
As different as the requirements are, there is one hurdle that everyone has to overcome: social integration. «Although Switzerland is strongly in favour of education, the opportunity to participate in society remains difficult,» says Eberwein. The consequence of this is that psychological difficulties are added to the already challenging situation. Fent is also of the opinion that social integration has a significant influence on young refugees' career entry: «Social isolation has a negative impact on their life situation and reduces their ability to overcome obstacles.»
