Successfully integrating international skilled workers: Regional workshop in Dülmen met with a great response
Attracting and retaining international skilled workers presents a valuable opportunity to tackle the challenges posed by the skills shortage. To support employers in this endeavour, the Onboarding@Münsterland service run by Münsterland e.V. organised a one-day workshop last Wednesday at the ‘Dialog Karthaus’ in Dülmen. This was already the sixth successful workshop in the ‘Betriebliche Welcome Guides Münsterland’ series.
“The aim of the workshop is to support companies in the Münsterland region in systematically preparing to recruit and retain international skilled workers in the long term,” emphasised Monika Leiking from Münsterland e.V. “Demographic trends show that, in future, we will not be able to meet the demand for skilled workers without immigration.” The programme covered everything from recruitment and organising the first 100 days at the company to settling into the local community and developing long-term prospects for the new employees.
The workshop was specifically aimed at HR staff who wish to employ skilled workers from third countries or who have already gained some initial experience in this field. The various phases of the process were examined by regional experts: Sophie Niehues (Federal Employment Agency, Coesfeld/Borken) provided practical insights into recruitment. Monika Leiking and Stefanie Prange (Münsterland e.V.) discussed preparation and integration within the company and in the local community.
For integration to succeed, intercultural competence is essential within the company: Marion Grams and Ekaterina Dolbina from the Municipal Integration Management (KIM) in the Coesfeld district used group exercises to bring linguistic and cultural differences to life and explained the theoretical principles. They then joined Sonja Machalitza and Sarah Otten from the Borken District Municipal Integration Centre to present their support services for immigrants and businesses.
The workshop was organised by Münsterland e.V. as part of the Onboarding@Münsterland service, in collaboration with the economic development agencies of the districts of Borken, Coesfeld, Steinfurt and Warendorf, as well as the Federal Employment Agency.
The next event is currently being planned: the “Practical Forum on International Employment” on Wednesday 7 October at Fiege in Münster.
Information on the topic of “International Employment” and on upcoming events can be found atwww.muensterland.com/internationals.
Information for skilled workers from abroad:www.muensterland.com/welcome-internationals.
