Finland Times

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Employers and jobseekers sat together in a workshop on October 29 in Rovaniemi with the view to promote diversity in Finnish working life.

 

Vates Foundation in conjunction with seven other agencies organised the event at Oppipoika restaurant to bring employers and jobseekers under a common umbrella. The associating agencies are Finnish Epilepsy Association (FEA), Suunto Project, Intermediate Labour Market Project, Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment (ELY Centre), AMA Arctic Immigrants, and ETNO-Advisory Board for Ethnic Relations and Public Employment and Business Services.

 

“The aim of the congregation was to provide opportunities to get to know each other on the point of view regarding recruitment and information acquisition,” Vates Foundation Project Manager Petri Puroaho told the Finland Times.

 

He said, “Employers, people who are looking for work, and local organisations and networks who support employment were invited to participate in the programme.”

 

It was the first co-operative effort by the organisers to bring employers and jobseekers to a same programme, said the project manager, adding that they aim to organise more similar programmes in the future.

 

He expressed the hope that employers would concentrate more on knowhow and personality than on ethnic background, for example, when interviewing jobseekers.

 

“Diversity in Finnish working life will make our labour market stronger and better,” Puroaho remarked.

 

A local employer, Cem Ulusoy, emphasised concentrating on skill and personality of the employees irrespective of ethnic background.

 

Another employer, Merja Alaranta, also underscored personality. “When looking for work,” she said, “the main thing is to never give up trying.”

 

Pour Ahmani Kermani Moein feels the best employee is a person dedicated to his/her work and loves what he or she is doing.

 

Kaisa Nurminen feels strongly that most of the people with epilepsy can work normally. “Working life in Finland just needs more information about epilepsy and about its effects on people,” said Nurminen.

 

Sofiane Azab said, “Employers should be brave enough to employ people with different backgrounds, because ultimately we are all very similar and people want the same basic things like education, work opportunities, family and good life.”

 

VirpiVaarala of the Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Enviroment), Paula Salminen  of Finnish Epilepsy Association (FEA), SannaMäensivu of Suunto –project, NafisaYeasmin of Arctic Centre and Petri Puroaho of Vates Foundation were also present at the programme among others.

 

RAY Finland’s Slot Machine Association, European Social Fund and the Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment sponsored the programme.