Karditsa and Katerini
text by ReROOT site researcher George Papagiannitsis (UTH)
Edited by Cornelia Tippel (ILS)
Edited by Cornelia Tippel (ILS)
In Karditsa and Katerini (2K), the researchers faced a paradox between the concentration of newcomers in prominent urban areas and labour demand in peripheral rural areas such as 2K. Thus, the mission of the platform is to promote an alternative, labour market driven, integration model. In other words, the platform seeks to initiate a dialogue between different stakeholders, addressing employment as a common and pragmatic need of all parties, with the potential to create a “win-win” situation. In Karditsa, the initial idea was to build an on-line, job matching platform ( “Find your roots in Karditsa - A hospitable city for newcomers”), providing information of the labour needs market availabilities in the area to anyone interested. In Katerini, where migrant accommodation was facilitated by different local players acting on their own (leading to fragmentation of roles and responsibilities), the purpose of the platform (named “Let's build contact”) focused on the creation of a basic communication hub. This platform was also aimed to establish a communication channel among stakeholders in both cities.
Target groups & stakeholders
Both platforms are based upon and concern both “insiders” and “outsiders”. Even though at a glance it may seem that they focus on newcomers, in fact the proposed platforms seek to address a joint problem (the mismatch of labour demand and supply) that is of major importance to both “sides”. Finding a job is a necessity for newcomers in order to sustain themselves (initially) and advance their lives, while employment also provides a social context that contributes to integration into the local society. For employers, the availability of the workforce they need allows them to organise and plan more efficiently and, as a result, increases their prospects for growth and economic success with positive effects on the local economy and society in general. Although economic success at both the firm and regional level certainly depends on many factors, the availability of an adequate and appropriate workforce is of paramount importance.
Both platforms are based upon and concern both “insiders” and “outsiders”. Even though at a glance it may seem that they focus on newcomers, in fact the proposed platforms seek to address a joint problem (the mismatch of labour demand and supply) that is of major importance to both “sides”. Finding a job is a necessity for newcomers in order to sustain themselves (initially) and advance their lives, while employment also provides a social context that contributes to integration into the local society. For employers, the availability of the workforce they need allows them to organise and plan more efficiently and, as a result, increases their prospects for growth and economic success with positive effects on the local economy and society in general. Although economic success at both the firm and regional level certainly depends on many factors, the availability of an adequate and appropriate workforce is of paramount importance.
All the participants of the event in Katerini on 20th of June 2023
Lessons Learned and Open Questions
- Transformative Actions: The concept of “transformative” is subjective and can vary based on the expected timeframe for outcomes and the relative importance of political change versus academic knowledge.
- Cross-Area Collaboration: Bringing together agents from both areas (labour market and migrant support stakeholders) fostered increased contact, communication, synergies, and further cooperation.
- Progressive Initiative: Despite challenges, partners embraced this initiative, marking significant progress and paving the way for transformation.
