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Autonomy, choice, and control of refugee youth: Third-sector intervention supporting

employment integration in Switzerland

D. Gateley SaïdMarie Curie Early Stage ResearcherUniversity of Bielefeld – Germany

Monday, 9 July 2012 – Social Work, Social Development – Stockholm

Funding: Education as Welfare - Enhancing Opportunities for Socially Vulnerable Youth (Marie Curie ITN)

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Refugee Youth (17-25)7 interviewed in

Zürich, Switzerland

Theoretical Framework: Capability Approach (Sen, Nussbaum)-Autonomy, Choice & Control (Burchardt, et. al.)-Life-First Approach (Dean, et. al.)

Central Research Themes: Qualitative Study

Employment Provider: “Third-Sector” Organisation (Case Study)- Value-driven: Voluntary and community organisations, charities, social enterprises, non-profits &

cooperatives

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1. Reframe application of the Capability Approach in regards to refugee employment integration to develop the debate regarding its application.

2. Provide recommendations for interventions focusing on labour market integration of refugees in order to offer workable solutions to ensure responsiveness to the needs and desires of service users.

1. Reframe application of the Capability Approach in regards to refugee employment integration to develop the debate regarding its application.

2. Provide recommendations for interventions focusing on labour market integration of refugees in order to offer workable solutions to ensure responsiveness to the needs and desires of service users.

Research Aims

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Switzerland – Context: Migration

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“Foreigners” make up 22% of population, 6.7% are asylum-seeker & refugees - “recognised” refugees: 26,346.

Switzerland incorporates 1951 Refugee Convention & although not part of EU, since 2008 applies Dublin Agreement.

Number of asylum applications in 2011: 22,552 (up by 45% from 2010) – only 3,711 persons were granted asylum.

Recognised refugees – initially Permit B, after five years of residence receive Permit C. Temporary admission – Permit F.

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Switzerland – Context: (Un)employment

•Traditionally low unemployment for Swiss citizens-in 2010, around 4% vs. 10% for the Euro Zone. Youth (15-24) 7% unemployment rate (2011, OECD).

•Foreign population unemployment rate of 10.4% in 2010.

•Refugees with F/B/C permits (asylum-seekers under certain circumstances) can be in gainful employment, however in 2010:

-17% employment rate of “recognised refugees” (RR); &-34% employment rate of temporarily admitted refugees (TAR).

•Employment seen as key marker & means of integration, alongside social connections, culture/language, housing, education, health and rights.

•Traditionally low unemployment for Swiss citizens-in 2010, around 4% vs. 10% for the Euro Zone. Youth (15-24) 7% unemployment rate (2011, OECD).

•Foreign population unemployment rate of 10.4% in 2010.

•Refugees with F/B/C permits (asylum-seekers under certain circumstances) can be in gainful employment, however in 2010:

-17% employment rate of “recognised refugees” (RR); &-34% employment rate of temporarily admitted refugees (TAR).

•Employment seen as key marker & means of integration, alongside social connections, culture/language, housing, education, health and rights.

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Research Imperative & Gap

Imperative-Recognition that those facing most disadvantage in the labour market not being well-served by conventional integration programmes (Perkins, 2007).

-In Europe, refugees experience higher levels of unemployment & underemployment than nationals (ECRE, 2007),

-“Young refugees… are a growing minority of vulnerable young people…” (Chapman, 2002:3).

Gap•Gap examining refugees’ experiences and “perceptions of the responsiveness of employment providers to their needs” (Shutes, 2010: 3).

Imperative-Recognition that those facing most disadvantage in the labour market not being well-served by conventional integration programmes (Perkins, 2007).

-In Europe, refugees experience higher levels of unemployment & underemployment than nationals (ECRE, 2007),

-“Young refugees… are a growing minority of vulnerable young people…” (Chapman, 2002:3).

Gap•Gap examining refugees’ experiences and “perceptions of the responsiveness of employment providers to their needs” (Shutes, 2010: 3).

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In the sense of what people are able to be and do, CA provides a normative, analytical framework which is useful when assessing situations of those that are most vulnerable, such as refugee.

In “social evaluations and policy design, the focus should be on whatpeople are able to do and be, on the quality of their life, and on removing obstacles in their lives so that they have more freedomto live the kind of life which, upon reflection, they find valuable” (Robeyns 2003:6).

Offers a people-first approach to policy-making, where well-being and agencyare equally promoted, therefore moving away from lens of vulnerability.

In the sense of what people are able to be and do, CA provides a normative, analytical framework which is useful when assessing situations of those that are most vulnerable, such as refugee.

In “social evaluations and policy design, the focus should be on whatpeople are able to do and be, on the quality of their life, and on removing obstacles in their lives so that they have more freedomto live the kind of life which, upon reflection, they find valuable” (Robeyns 2003:6).

Offers a people-first approach to policy-making, where well-being and agencyare equally promoted, therefore moving away from lens of vulnerability.

Capability Approach (CA): Overview

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“Autonomy, Choice & Control” (Burchardt,et. al., 2010)

“Inequality of autonomy: whether people are empowered to make decisions and act on those decisions in critical areas of their lives” (Burchardt et. al., 2010).

Conceptual Scheme

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Capability Approach: Life-First Approach

Work-First - labour market inclusion promotion on premise that any job better then none.

Life-First - A holistic intervention model which prioritises the individuals’ life needs, including the need to work:

1.long-term, sustained support;2.‘street-wise’ caseworkers with knowledge about services, entitlements & local labour market;3.liaison with statutory agencies as well as employers;4.Caseworkers based in voluntary-sector agencies;5.engagement with support is voluntary; &6.service needs to be flexible & adaptable to particular problems of clientele (Dean et. al., 2005).

Work-First - labour market inclusion promotion on premise that any job better then none.

Life-First - A holistic intervention model which prioritises the individuals’ life needs, including the need to work:

1.long-term, sustained support;2.‘street-wise’ caseworkers with knowledge about services, entitlements & local labour market;3.liaison with statutory agencies as well as employers;4.Caseworkers based in voluntary-sector agencies;5.engagement with support is voluntary; &6.service needs to be flexible & adaptable to particular problems of clientele (Dean et. al., 2005).

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Multi-dimensionality of Refugee Integration

Facilitators

FoundationsAdapted from Indicators of Integration Framework, (Ager & Strang, 2004)

Markers & Means

Language,Cultural-Knowledge,Safety & Stability

Rights & Citizenship

Employment, Housing,Education &Health Social

Connections

Case Study Intervention Model

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-Intensive German language classes-Home visits with Swiss Families-Visits to companies - -Organise cookeryevenings for all staff

-Help with housing

issues

-Assist in problems relating

to education & traininginstitutions.

Intervention for refugees aged 16-

25 in Zurich. Social workers will refer their clients.

Intervention for refugees aged 16-

25 in Zurich. Social workers will refer their clients.

-Intensive 1:1 support over 2 & half year period, includes:

Help with choosing work, job applications/CVs, liaising employers & accompanyingyouth to meetings with employers.

- Engage with employers on behalf of refugees

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Part Two: Life-First Approach-Expert interviews with staff & caseworkers-Documentary analysis (KPIs, process docs., assessments)-Positioned in structural context of political economy (Wolf, 1997)

Part One: “Autonomy, Choice & Control” -6 Semi-structured interviews (Problem-Centre Interviews) with refugee youth (17-29)-Questions and analysis utilise “Autonomy, Choice & Control” conceptual framework (Burchardt, Evans, & Holder, 2010)

Case StudyThird-Sector Organisation

Zürich

Methods – Overview Methods – Overview Small-scale qualitative (exploratory) study – Non-representative/cannot generalise

findings

Pre-study research/scoping - Research ethics took a central role

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Research Interviews

Refugee Service Users1. “S” (22) Female, Iran – Shops Assistant

(Training)2. “C” (21) Female, Syria – Pharmacy Assistant

(Training)3. “Patricia” (22) Female, Angola – Office Assistant (Training)4. “Laura” (23) Female, Congo - Hairdressing Training5. “M” (17) Female, Afghanistan – School 6. “Tilu” (22) Male, Eritrea – Plumber (Training)7. “Samson“ (21) Male, Eritrea – Metalworker (Training)

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1. How do the refugee service users experience and exercise autonomy?

2. What structural constraints exist and what are the barriers to employment?

3. Are organisational policies individualised and responsive to the specificities of users (refugee youth) and do they promote autonomy (empower)?

1. How do the refugee service users experience and exercise autonomy?

2. What structural constraints exist and what are the barriers to employment?

3. Are organisational policies individualised and responsive to the specificities of users (refugee youth) and do they promote autonomy (empower)?

Research Questions

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Thank you!

@DavinaGeesaid

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