This document summarizes refugee integration efforts in Lithuania's labor market. It discusses the models, laws, and programs in place to help refugees from registration centers find employment, education, housing and language assistance. Challenges include negative attitudes, lack of language skills, and trauma from their experiences. The Kaunas Labor Exchange plays a key role in counseling refugees, evaluating qualifications, and connecting them with jobs in sectors like construction and manufacturing. While many have found work, full integration takes time and continued support is needed to address emotional and cultural adjustment issues.

1. Refugee Integration into
Lithuanian Labour Market
Kaunas
2018 09 04
KAUNAS LABOUR EXCHANGE

2. Integration model
Asylum seeker in Lithuania
(refugee or person with
subsidiary protection)
Lithuanian society
Employers
Educational institutions
Organizations providing services
1951 Geneva Convention
EU Directives 2011/95/EU, 2013/33/EU
EU -Turkey Refugee Deal, 2016
Law on the Legal Status of Aliens
Resolution of the Government ,No.628,22-06-2015
Resolution of the Government, No.998,05-10-2016
Resolution of the Government,No.822, 11-10-2017
Foreigners Integration Program
Recognition of professional qualifications
Health, social & educational programs
Rukla
Refugees
Reception
Centre
NGO &
Municipalities
representatives
Integration Programs
Laws & Regulations
Pabrade
Foreigners
Registration
Centre

3. Refugees in Lithuania
(EU relocation quota, 2016-2017)
Italy 29
Turkey 84
Greece 355

4. Integration plan
Refugee in Lithuania
Employment
(PES activities)
NGO (Caritas,
Raudonas Kryzius)
Local Council
Representative
Rukla Refugee
Integration Centre
Rukla Labour
Market Client
Centre
Lithuanian
Language
Housing
Children
Education
Health Care
Financial
Support

5. Integration goals
Before arrival
& arrival
Short- term
goals
Long-term
goals

6. Registered Refugees in Kaunas Labour Exchange
01/2016-09/2018
70
205
46
From Pabrade EU refugee quata From Ukraine

7. Refugees in Kaunas Labour Exchange
01/2016-09/2018
79
120
42
108
158
55
35
78
18
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
160
180
2016 2017 09/2018
Consulted Registered Checked out

8. Tailored Services for Refugees
Counselling and
information before
registration
Assisting &
mediating
employment ,
signing contract
Visits to companies &
engagement into
working environment
Evaluation of
professional
competencies

9. Refugees in first employment 01/2016-09/2018
46
214
55
46
205
70
36
68
36
0
50
100
150
200
250
Ukrainian EU Refugee Quata Pabrade
Consultations Registration Employment

10. Economical sectors refugees found employment,
01/2016-09/2018
Economical Sector Number of refugees
Wood processing & production 15
Building& construction 13
Sewing& knitting 11
Beauty & hairstyling 7
Poultry manufacturing 6
Food manufacturing 5
International service centre 2
Automotive 1

11. Employers‘ profile
1 2 3
Companies having
experience of hiring
foreigners
Companies which
owners are foreign
nationals
Companies having
multicultural attitude
4
Companies which owners
are from Middle East

12. Challengers in Labour Market
For refugee For employer For consultant
• Negative attitude towards different
religion, race etc.
• Difficulties with taking up
Lithuanian language, low salaries in
labour market, lack of qualification
documents.
• Finding a job closely relates to
relocating and housing.
• Cultural differences and
language barrier.
• Integration to the team and
organization.
• Differences in work ethics,
learning, management.
• Language barrier, cultural
differences, need for interpreter.
• Different expectations about
salary, career, working
conditions.
• Lacking competencies high at
demand in labour market.

13. Evaluation of professional competencies
At vocational centre helpful with:
• theoretical and practical experts;
• methodology.
At employer‘s workplace worth with:
• practical experts;
• modern equipment, gadgets, tools.

14. Vocational training available in Vilnius & Kaunas
Builder
Confectioner
Hairdresser
Painter
Seamstress
Make-up artist

15. Vocational training and evaluation of professional
qualifications
6
3
10
6
2
1
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
Started vocational training Evaluation of professional
competencies
2016 2017 2018

16. Psychoemotional state and its impact on integration
Posttraumatic stress
syndrome
Long-term distress
Anxiety,
depression, etc.
Disease, illness,
disorders &
malfunctioning
Traumatic experience in
country of origin, on the
flee, at refugee camps

17. Why it is important to recognize vulnerable emotional states?
• Incapable to accomplish tasks at the workplace;
• Fatigue, tiredness, tingling in arms, legs;
• Inactivity;
• Attention disorders;
• Unwilling to take up job;
• Panic attacks;
• Heart problems;
• Eating, sleeping disorders;
• Incapable to take care of family members.
PRACTICAL-FAMILY-EMOTIONAL-SPIRITUAL-PHISICAL PROBLEMS: Extreme
distress
No distress

18. How can PES contribute to refugee long- term integration?
Individualised needs
assessment & case
management
Long-term integration vs
short- term integration
• Encourage to take personal
responsibility and obligations
while making career decisions
• Influence realistic expectations
about salary, working
environment, schedule etc.
• Help to adapt to employers
requirements
• Assist choosing career path or
profession leading to long-
term integration
• Encourage learning of
Lithuanian language
• Help to develop real career
plans
• Develop faster& simple qualification
recognition procedures
• Promote professional attitude dealing
with sensitive & personal information
• Cooperate & communicate with NGO,
municipality representatives
Simple and faster
procedures & cooperation

19. Future with unanswered questions?
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
2020/20232018/20192016/2017
Task Society and employers attitude
Task Cultural integration/ religious needs
Task Learning Lithuanian language
Gaining and recognition of qualificationsTask

20. 2018 09 13
KAUNAS LABOUR EXCHANGE