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CONFERENCE FROM WELFARE TO WORKFARE ON THE BALKANS – PRACTICAL CHALLENGES AND FUTURE PERSPECTIVES – 29th NOVEMBER 2007
Researchers of the St. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje, the University of Belgrade and the University of Sarajevo organised a conference to present the research publication From Welfare to Workfare States on the Western Balkans - Promotion of the Role of the Private Sector in Providing Employment Opportunities in Macedonia, Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina. The conference gathered representatives from economic and educational institutions involved in welfare(-to-workfare) programmes, such as employment agencies, centres for social work and the Macedonian Ministry of Labour and Social Policy, as well as representatives from businesses. Having these representatives around one table, allowed for the exchange of experiences and best practices on (re-)integrating welfare recipients into the labour market, especially by involving the private sector. The conference took place on 29 November in Hotel Intercontinental in Skopje, Macedonia.
The research was coordinated by an assistant professor of the Institute for Social Work and Social Policy of the St. Cyril and Methodius University, and was conducted in cooperation with an assistant professor of the Department of Social Work of the University of Belgrade and with an assistant professor of the Department of Social Work of the University of Sarajevo. The research was financed by SPARK under its regional Private Sector Development in the Western Balkans project.
The overall objective of the research was to analyse and promote the role of the private sector in the provision of employment opportunities for welfare recipients. More specifically, the aim of the research was to analyse the current legislation and practice in this regard and to promote the role of the private sector in the implementation of workfare programmes on a regional level, as well as to enable the process of mutual exchange of experiences and learning based on case studies of concrete employment initiatives on a regional and international level.
CONFERENCE SKILLS NEEDS ANALYSES IN THE WESTERN BALKANS - 20th NOVEMBER 2007
The Regional Agency for Economic Development of Sumadija and Pomoravlje region organized the closing conference regarding the presentation of the ”Skills needs analyses in the Western Balkan” research. The conference was organized in Hotel Kragujevac on 20th November 2007 and provided ample opportunities for participants to learn what are the employees required skills defined by their employers in the Western Balkan region.
The research was coordinated by the Regional Agency for Economic Development of Sumadija and Pomoravlje region and conducted in cooperation with the Regional Chamber of Commerce in Beljina, Institute for European Studies from Podgorica and center for Human resource and Management from Belgrade. The research was financed by SPARK in the context of its regional Private Sector Development in the Western Balkans Project.
The methodology that was used during the research (focus groups) represented the new approach since this type of methodology was rarely used in the WB region. The research and survey involved top managers of SME’s and managers of human resources departments from all three countries.
The research results aimed to provide valid information about necessary skills required by employers in Serbia, as well as in the Western Balkan region. In addition, the research aimed to enable usage of collected data for development of national system of continuous training and education in order to improve the labor competitiveness.
The research and report of the conference will soon be available online.
Outputs of the "HACCP standards implementation in the Western Balkans" research were presented on 20 June 2008 in Podgorica. The press conference were organised by CEED and research results were presented to 7 media representatives (newspapers and TV stations). In addition, 2 companies (Pirella and Plantaza from Podgorica) that already introduced HACCP standards, were present at press conference as well. Ms. Slavica Nikolic, the research manager, stressed out that company managers recognise the importance of introduction of HACCP standards in their food production systems. Companies that already introduced HACCP standards records increase in almost all aspects of their business. Although the costs of HACCP standards introduction are substantial, at the end HACCP standards lead to production increase, export and sales increase. In addition, certain number of companies records increase in employment. The main reasons for introduction of HACCP standards are satisfaction of growing needs of customers, increase of competitiveness and export of particular company.
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