This PES Network Working Group (WG) exchanges on developments around integrating refugees and displaced people from Ukraine in Member States’ labour markets and takes stock of good practices. The first WG meeting highlighted the need for PES to collaborate closely with other stakeholders, including NGOs, education providers, local and state authorities, in order to define responsibilities and offer comprehensive services.

The meeting heard presentations from the host, the Norwegian PES, on their experience and on the challenges faced by Poland, as the main receiving country. Participating PES exchanged on difficulties and exceptional measures they are putting in place to assist Ukrainian refugees.

WG members agreed that while the legal and social situations, as well as the numbers of arrivals across receiving countries vary, Public Employment Services face very similar challenges related to:

• longer-term integration in host countries due to the continuing hostilities in Ukraine;
• need for faster assessment and validation of refugees’ skills and qualifications;
• the language barrier to labour market integration and the amount of time it takes to overcome it;
• good childcare to enable women – the majority of the refugees – to work;
• helping to deal with and overcome conflict trauma and anxiety.

The meeting was held online and hosted by the Norwegian PES (NAV). It brought together representatives of the European Commission and 10 PES from Austria, Germany, Greece, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Poland, Romania, and Slovenia.

The second WG meeting will be held in Oslo, Norway, in February 2023.