Key objectives

The conference is organised jointly by the Polish Ministry for Labour and SocialAffairs and Eurofound (European Foundation for the Improvement of Living andWorking Conditions). The Polish Presidency provides a unique opportunity toexamine the highly complex implications of labour migration from a Central andEast-European perspective. Eurofound has extensive and recent experience inmigration research. A project researching workers’ mobility is currently underway,while other earlier projects were concerned with the integration of third countrymigrants within countries of the European Union. The first day of the conference willbe dedicated to discussions related to the social and employment consequences oflabour outflow from Central and Eastern Europe to the Member States of the formerEU15 whereas the second day is concerned with labour inflow into these countries.

Content

The first session

– setting the scene - will provide participants with an overview ofthe following issues:Trends and extent of labour outflowWhich are the main sending countries?Sectoral and occupational patternsEducational status of migrants and types of jobs they occupy in the receivingcountries

The subsequent sessions on social and employment impacts of labour outflow will beorganised in two parts:

The first part on social consequences will focus on

the situation of those left behind,i.e. the impact on families and children, as well as on the elderly population (withinthe context of the issues related to demographic change)

The second part will focus on employment challenges of migration and will

discuss the following questions:

Gaps and labour shortages in the sending countries as a consequence of increasinglabour outflowPolicy responses at national and local level to these gaps and shortagesHow do employers deal with labour shortages?

The workshops will focus on three themes:

1. Impacts of migration on families, children and young adults

Increasing mobility offers both opportunities and risks for family life, stretching thecapacity of men and women to reconcile work with family relationships and toprovide family care. There are challenges facing family members who are left behindas well problems associated with taking the family abroad. The social consequencesof migration are many and varied. Social and family connections can be adverselyaffected with links to the society and to the family reduced resulting in correspondingimplications for children and the elderly alike.Each working group, involving experts, policymakers and stakeholders from variousorganisations and countries, will be introduced by two focussed presentations on thepolicy objectives in relation to the theme of the session. Working groups will have aninteractive format aimed at sharing experiences between participants on challengesand solutions in these key areas. The main objective of the working group will be todiscuss measures and share good practices that address the social and employmentchallenges of labour outflow from the Central and East-European Member States.

2. Addressing labour shortages

The focus of this workshop is part of a broader debate in Europe, on the question ofhow to match labour demand and supply. The consequences of labour shortages inthe sending countries are a key dimension of this debate and, the session will touch onconcerns of ‘brain drain’, impact on education, training and the recognition ofqualifications. The role of the social partners in addressing these labour shortages willalso be discussed. In particular, there will be a focus on the health sector as a specialcase in point since it illustrates the complex role migration plays in meeting labourmarket needs. Amidst growing demographic pressures, this is of specific relevance.Equally the issue of training and retention of professionals plays an important role inthis debate. What kind of cooperative arrangements could be made to balance theneeds of sending and receiving countries? What is the role of universities and otherprofessional or private organisations in this domain?

3. Management of migration processes at local and regional levels

This session will allow participants to debate possible future strategies addressing themigration issue, its costs and benefits. What is the role of non-state actors, local andregional authorities and the social partners, in developing and implementing labourmobility schemes?The concluding panel debate of the first day will consist of a moderated reportingback from the parallel sessions and a final discussion. This session will take stock ofthe plenary discussion as well the main conclusions of the working groups.

The way forward

- The final concluding panel debate will reflect on the two-daydebate and will highlight the main issues and challenges raised regarding migrationand integration from a European perspective. High-level representatives from the EUinstitutions, national governments, and experts in migration and integration issues willoffer their insights on the way forward. Among other issues, the following questionswill be discussed:Has there been adequate EU policy focus on tackling the social and employmentimpacts of labour outflow from the Central and East-European Member States?What information, knowledge and capacities are required to design effective policiesin this context?

Background information for the conference

‘Social and economic impact of migration:

Central and East-European perspectives’