A seminar about “Labour shortage: developing realistic solutions through social dialogue” was held in Trento/Monte Bodone/Italy from 18-20 October 2024, organised by UNAIE (Unione Nazionale delle Associazioni degli Immigrati ed Emigrati - national union of immigrant and emigrant associations), in cooperation with EZA and funded by the European Union. 49 representatives of workers’ organisations from Belgium, Bosnia, Bulgaria, Slovakia, France, Germany, Italy, Malta and Romania took part in the seminar.
The topic of the seminar was the labour shortage that is plaguing the local, national and European economy, particularly in certain key sectors such as hospitality, logistics, transport, healthcare and agriculture. After years of receiving minimal attention from the press and politicians, this theme is now increasingly taking centre stage in the public debate, and an issue that was considered relevant only to demographers and experts prior to the pandemic is now attracting more urgent attention. Numerous aspects of the problem were explored, both in terms of the approach to the topic and the countries of origin. Representatives examined the theme from the perspective of academic disciplines, trade unions, social organisations and public institutions. Experiences from a range of countries with varying geographical, demographic and migratory characteristics were presented and, despite the different contexts, all agreed on the urgency and topicality of this sensitive phenomenon.
The majority of the presentations focused on the issue of labour shortages in the respective geographical area. The seminar kicked off with a speech by Oscar De Bona, President of UNAIE, who pointed out the connection between the topic under discussion and the role of emigration organisations. Migration flows to Europe and America in the period after the Second World War contributed to the economic prosperity of many of the destination countries. Vincenzo Bertozzi provided important data on the ageing of the population and the labour market based on thorough statistical research. Although the ageing population represents a major challenge, it is also an opportunity for the labour market. The success of companies and the economic sustainability of countries will depend on their ability to adapt to these new realities. It is crucial to develop effective strategies to respond to this demographic dynamic. Finally, Ileana Olivo and Stefania Terlizzi, officials from the Autonomous Province of Trento, spoke about the measures that public administrations can implement to solve this problem. In this context, a preview of the ‘Argentina Job Project’ was presented, i.e. a programme for specialised vocational training and a language course for 300 candidates who will subsequently be employed in various sectors with acute labour shortages.
A round table discussion between employee organisations took place on the morning of Saturday, 19 October. Andrea Grosselli, Stefano Veronese and Marco Boleo highlighted the main problems in the world of work: the education system, which fails to provide training in effective skills and the corporate and commercial system, which is far from the frontiers of innovation. Majda Seghir and Joseph Vella then spoke about the problem of labour shortages in Western Europe and Malta respectively and explained the labour market policies implemented by the various countries to remedy the situation.
On Saturday afternoon, the floor was given to representatives of important institutions from across Europe. Edith Pichler from the University of Potsdam introduced the case of Germany, which has been facing a saturated labour market and a growing demand for workers to fill jobs for several years. Pichler detailed the changes in immigration law that are designed to make the country a more attractive destination for migrants with technical and professional qualifications. Amendments to German citizenship law will therefore soon be introduced to facilitate the acquisition of German citizenship. Lubica Cerna presented the situation in Slovakia, followed by Laurent Rigaud from the French region of Savoie, who outlined the conditions in mountain regions and the relevance of the geographical boundaries of an area. At the end of the second day it was the turn of Rudy Chaulet from the University of Franche-Comté to speak, who offered an interesting historical approach to the problem of labour shortages and how they have been addressed throughout history.
The morning of Sunday, 20 October was dedicated to three closing speeches. Rumen Valchev, speaking in place of Michela Ceccarelli, who was absent with apologies, presented the labour situation in Bulgaria. Massimo Malossini contributed his experience in the field of vocational training and spoke about school, training and young people entering the world of work. Vittorino Rodaro presented the conclusions of the seminar to round off the event. Immigration has emerged as a key issue where the requirements for labour in the commercial world (including and notably cheap labour) clash with political ideologies that aim to maintain a high level of popular consensus in the context of opposition to immigration. Social dialogue is therefore a key tool to orient both the public and workers and to prevent them from being caught between these opposing forces.
The importance of two key aspects to counteract the issue of labour shortages were revealed: the training of young people and the integration of new workers. It is not sufficient to bring the descendants of emigrants back to Europe or to make it easier for foreign workers to immigrate to various countries: it is essential that such workers have the necessary skills to integrate effectively into the labour market. Vocational training projects targeting specific sectors such as healthcare, the artisan sector and catering should be actively promoted, we should collaborate more closely with vocational institutions, local authorities and professional associations to provide workers with refresher and retraining courses to enable them to quickly adapt to the demands of the labour market. Social integration is a second pillar that demands attention; workers returning or migrating to a country must feel welcome and supported.
The task of associations like UNAIE must create social support networks to help such workers integrate into the social and economic fabric of the respective country. This includes not only administrative and bureaucratic support, but also cultural and linguistic integration, which will take place via contact persons and contacts with other similar situations at a local, national and European level.