EURES (European Employment Services) was launched in 1994 as a European Commission measure to actively assist and promote the free movement of workers throughout the member states. It is a network of employment services in Europe that seeks to ensure that European citizens can benefit from the same opportunities, despite language barriers, cultural differences, bureaucratic challenges, diverse employment laws, and a lack of recognition of educational certificates across Europe.
Over many years the Belfast Unemployed Resource Centre (BURC) has run programmes in conjunction with EURES Cross Border Partnership, which on this island comprises the following organisations:
- The Department of Communities
- SOLAS
- The Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU)
- The Confederation of British Industry (CBI)
- The Irish Business and Employers Confederation (IBEC)
- The Chambers of Commerce (North and South of Ireland)
These programmes have strived to ensure that people seeking to work and to live in Northern Ireland receive advice relating to living and working conditions, such as employment rights and representation, housing, health, education, training, job opportunities, and benefit entitlement.
Currently, BURC are running two online courses, which aim to provide migrant workers in Northern Ireland with the skills they need to improve their employment prospects and succeed, they are:
- English in the workplace:
- This course is adapted for use with adults currently in employment in different work sectors. For example: construction, food, light engineering.
- A diagnostic test is used to identify learners’ language needs and to ensure that the level is appropriate for different learners in the group.
- Introduction to Customer Service:
- This course is aimed at anyone interested In joining the service industry.
- As it is delivered online students can be recruited from anywhere within the Border regions.
On the European Union’s EURES Cross Border Partnership website page they noted almost a year ago that “The UK has formally left the EU and new regulations have been agreed. For cross border workers or jobseekers who are Irish or British, the Common Travel Area arrangements will ensure continuation of free movement.”
Further information is available at:
- Government advice for cross-border workers (linked here)
- UK Government advice for cross-border workers (linked here)
- EURES Cross Border Partnership website (linked here)
- Belfast Unemployment Resources Centre website (linked here)