Welcome to Münsterland: Successfully integrating skilled workers from abroad
Kick-off for a strong welcome culture in the Münsterland: practical strategies for attracting and integrating skilled workers from abroad were the focus of the first workshop in the new "Company Welcome Guides" series on Wednesday, 12 March in Dülmen. The Onboarding@Münsterland service of Münsterland e.V. developed the programme together with the business development agencies of the Münsterland districts and the Coesfeld Employment Agency.
"The aim of our cooperation project is to use the workshop series to sensitise employers in the Münsterland region to the topic of employing skilled workers from third countries and to make it easier for them to get started with specific practical tips. In addition, we want to bring the participants of all workshops into a lasting dialogue with each other and establish a Welcome Guide network so that they can benefit from each other's experiences," said Monika Leiking, Head of the Onboarding@Münsterland service. "It is important to us that the workshops provide the most important information on the topic of skilled workers from abroad as compactly as possible and in as much detail as necessary," added Dr Kirsten Tacke-Klaus from wfc Wirtschaftsförderung Kreis Coesfeld GmbH, who led the day together with Monika Leiking.
The fully booked kick-off workshop in Dülmen demonstrated the benefits that the exchange can bring. Sophie Niehues from the Coesfeld Employment Agency introduced the topic and gave the participants an overview of the legal and formal requirements for the recruitment and employment of skilled workers and labour from third countries.
The Caritasverband für den Kreis Coesfeld e.V. presented its detailed onboarding concept as a blueprint for how initial contact with skilled workers can be organised and how things can continue once the skilled worker has arrived. It became immediately clear that integration is a joint task for the skilled worker from abroad, the company and the existing employees.
"If the team is involved and prepared before the process of recruiting skilled workers from abroad begins, many later conflicts and misunderstandings can be avoided," explained Anne Gauselmann from the Caritas Association's Integration and Migration Service. "It is often a question of why the skilled worker from abroad receives more support than others - for example, when looking for accommodation or taking a longer holiday. All of this should be agreed in advance within the company," added her colleague Majda Mchiche. Intercultural training is also helpful in order to awaken an understanding of the particularities of foreign cultures, as well as mentors or sponsors within the company so that the skilled workers always have a direct contact person. The Caritas onboarding concept comprises six building blocks: team sensitisation, welcoming culture, family reunification, overcoming language barriers, accommodation and personal development.
The 20 or so participants also learnt how it is applied in practice in the Welcome Guide workshop and worked in small groups to develop solutions for conflicts in the day-to-day work of fictitious specialists from abroad.
Monika Leiking then focussed on the successful arrival at their new place of residence. "In order for skilled workers from abroad to stay permanently, it is important that companies help them to integrate outside of the workplace," she explained. "This means, for example, explaining the local leisure activities and club culture to them and, if necessary, helping them to make initial contacts locally." The regional Onboarding@Münsterland service supports employers with a personal counselling service and the "Welcome Internationals" website to introduce skilled workers from abroad to Münsterland as a place to live in face-to-face meetings or online.
The next Welcome Guide day workshops this year will take place on 22 May in the Borken district, on 16 September in the Warendorf district and on 19 November in the Steinfurt district. A date in Münster will follow at the beginning of 2026.
Workshop participants will also have the opportunity to share their own experiences and strategies or discuss existing issues in online meetings.
www.muensterland.com/internationals
www.muensterland.com/welcome-internationals
