Context
Romania’s labor market is in a precarious situation. The percentage of economic inactivity remains high, at 31.6 percent of the entire population (2019). The National Institute of Statistics projected that there are 238 thousand people belonging to an additional potential labor force who are not actively seeking work.
One out of three Romanians is still at risk of poverty, the most exposed categories being families with numerous children, unemployed ones, inactive people, atypical workers, people with disabilities – their employment rate is well below the EU average, 43.7% compared to 50.6%.
The legal framework does not effectively stimulate their capacity for employment, and public employment support services are limited. Access to the labor market remains limited for these groups. In 2018, the share of long-term unemployment in the total unemployment rate increased to 44%. Currently, around 100,000 long-term unemployed are registered with the public employment services. People with disabilities have limited access to support services.
The employment policies provided by Law 76/2002 fail to address workers from disadvantaged categories. Instead, the measures focus on financial incentives for non-lucrative associations, not on the needs of inactive people.
In this context, the insertion through economic activity is the answer that Ateliere Fără Frontiere has found as a social enterprise with great results registered throughout its 13 years of existence. Beneficiaries of Ateliere Fără Frontiere’s socio-professional insertion services come from marginalized communities, have an average of eight difficulties, and are selected based on their determination to better their lives.
In this context, the insertion through economic activity is the answer that Ateliere Fără Frontiere has found as a social enterprise with great results registered throughout its 13 years of existence. Beneficiaries of Ateliere Fără Frontiere’s socio-professional insertion services come from marginalized communities, have an average of eight difficulties, and are selected based on their determination to better their lives.
OBJECTIVES
Integration of vulnerable people on the conventional labour market and self-representation
We plan to increase the capacity of economic participation and access to services for people who face multiple vulnerabilities. They are consulted in the elaboration of socio-professional insertion laws and employment policies.
Public policies for activating the vulnerable
We promote a set of policy changes related to the employment of vulnerable groups: the recognition of the insertion service, the appropriate subsidization of jobs for disadvantaged workers and support measures for the social insertion enterprises.
Insertion models targeted for urban and rural areas
We are developing two models through which we offer a chance to integrate the vulnerable people on the labor market: Place & Train – social enterprise insertion model in urban areas and the social farm, made out for rural areas (a model that is to be upgraded with the support of Fretex Pluss Norway model).
Organizational development
We aim to form a united team, to make the most out of opportunities and resources. The better prepared we are to develop and innovate, the more we will develop our current plans and build a sustainable future.
Partners
Ateliere Fara Frontiere Association (AFF) is a Romanian non-profit organization, founded in 2008, for the social, professional and civic insertion of vulnerable, excluded and marginalized people, part of SOS Group – International action, a global network working to achieve the Objectives of Sustainable Development.
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RISE România – The Romanian Network of Social Insertion Enterprises consists of 11 NGOs providing social services as social enterprises for socio-professional insertion to extremely disadvantaged people. The members are: Fundația Alături de Voi, Fundația Motivation România, Fundația Dezvoltarea Popoarelor, Organizația Umanitară Concordia…
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Fretex is part of and respects the values of the Salvation Army, an international charity network with over 1.7 million members. The organization deals with the rehabilitation through work of vulnerable groups in Norway (refugees, immigrants, young people with school dropouts, adults without professional qualifications, etc.), since 1905.
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