Assisting Refugee Women in Germany Secure Employment Opportunities
In Germany, the integration of refugees, particularly women, into the workforce has been a pressing issue. A significant disparity exists between the employment rates of male and female refugees, with women facing a threefold disadvantage due to language skills, qualification recognition, and lack of childcare options.
One success story is that of Donya, a refugee from Afghanistan who came to Germany in 2016. Donya found herself in a German language class with Afraze, a woman with prior educational achievements, and a 55-year-old who had never held a pen before. Despite the challenges, Donya persevered and is now working as a care worker for the elderly in Germany.
The Work for Refugees Project, funded by the Berlin Senate (SenASGIVA) and run by GIZ / Society for Intercultural Coexistence and other cooperation partners, has played a crucial role in Donya's journey. The project offers free one-to-one counseling sessions, CV workshops, and helps place people in suitable jobs.
Another organisation, ReDi School of Digital Integration, provides training in digital skills and access to a network of tech leaders, students, and alumni. Hala Younis, a former teacher from Syria, found a job as a customer relationship manager with the online fashion platform Zalando, thanks in part to her experiences at ReDi.
However, the situation is more challenging for women who come to Germany with young children. A shortage of childcare workers and daycare spots makes it difficult for these women to attend language courses or take up employment. This is particularly evident as three-quarters of the Ukrainians seeking refuge in Germany are female.
Inna Gissa, a job adviser and counselor for the Work for Refugees Project, is a Ukrainian refugee who got her first job in Germany in a hotel restaurant with limited German language skills. Gissa serves as a role model for other women in similar situations.
Afsaneh Afraze, a psychologist who fled to Germany from Iran, is critical of the one-size-fits-all approach in integration courses in Germany. She believes that grassroots projects or organisations, often staffed by women who have fled to Germany, provide a better understanding of what the women they are helping are going through.
Despite these challenges, progress is being made. According to a study by the Institute for Employment Research (IAB), Germany's Federal Office for Refugees (BAMF) and the Socioeconomic Panel (SOEP), after eight years, 68% of people who fled to Germany found work. However, the study shows that female employment levels are much lower than that of men, with two-thirds of women refugees remaining unemployed after eight years.
Organisations like Tent Deutschland are working to bridge this gap by organising job fairs to help refugees find work through its network of 80 companies.
As we continue to support refugees in Germany, it's crucial to address these interrelated barriers and create targeted solutions to help women integrate into the labour market and build fulfilling lives in their new home.
[1] IAB, BAMF, SOEP (2019). Länderbericht Integration 2019. [3] ILO (2018). Women at Work: Trends 2018. [4] OECD (2017). Migration and Skills: The Role of Recognition. [5] World Bank (2019). Women, Business and the Law 2020: A Decade of Reform.
- Integration of refugees, particularly women, in the German labor force continues to be a significant issue, as seen in the discrepancy in employment rates between male and female refugees.
- The media often highlights success stories of refugees, such as Donya from Afghanistan, who secured employment through programs like the Work for Refugees Project and ReDi School of Digital Integration.
- For women with young children, the shortage of childcare options presents a major hurdle in learning language skills and seeking employment, as evident with the majority of refugee Ukrainians being female.
- Afsaneh Afraze, a psychologist from Iran, critiques the conventional integration courses, proposing grassroots projects and organizations, often run by women, better address the unique challenges faced by female refugees.
- To bridge the employment gap between male and female refugees, organizations like Tent Deutschland are organizing job fairs and utilizing networks of companies to promote employment opportunities for refugees. Studies such as those by IAB, BAMF, SOEP, ILO, OECD, and World Bank can help inform targeted solutions to aid women in integrating into the labor market and achieving self-development.
