AkiDwA: Inclusion Without Borders: Migrant Women in the Irish Labour Market - Wednesday 13th March @10am to 2pm D02 FX04

Access to employment and gaining economic independence is critical for migrant women to achieve positive outcomes for themselves, their families, and communities. Migrant women need access to meaningful jobs which fully engage their qualifications, skills, experiences, education and which allow them to utilise the experiences and skills gained abroad as well as in their countries of origin.  

This is currently not the situation for most migrant women in Ireland, as they continue to face challenges including institutional racism/discrimination which create barriers while accessing employment, education/self-development, recognition of previous qualifications and expertise, socio-economic issues for example childcare, housing, commuting/accessible transportation, stability of residence. 

Session Objectives  

The session will consist of opening speeches, keynote conversation, panel of discussions from key stakeholders and moderated open dialogue among migrant women participants who are members of AkiDwA. 

• Provide an overview on the state of migrant women labour market participation.  
• Share good practice and practical approaches to ensuring equity and accessibility in the labour market. How can we fill this gap?  
• Explore key challenges and opportunities in the labour market for migrant women.  
• Identifying areas needing further clarification.  
• For migrant women to be heard, be acknowledged as a major force in the Irish labour market for a progressive Ireland. 

Program and Time Structure:

• Registration 9:30 to 10:00am 
• Welcome 10:00am 
• Opening Speech – 10:20am  
• Launch of EM – 10:40am  
• Key-note conversation – Inclusion Matters – 11am 
• Break – 11:30am 
• First panel of discussion – Migrant Women’s Labour Market Experience 11:45am  
• Second panel of discussion – Policy Intervention and Support for Migrant Women’s Access to Labour Market 12:30pm 
• Networking session and lunch – 2pm 

Closing Remark - 

• Opening Speech and Launching by Dr Salome CEO AkiDwA and Keynote Speaker Joe O’Brien Joe O'Brien is Minister of State at the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Department of Social Protection with special responsibility for Community Development and Charities, and the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth with special responsibility for Integration.  
• Launch of Empowerment Employment. 
• Key opening speech: Immediate Conversion after the minister by Ivana Bacik and DCEDIY Secretary General facilitated by Dr Ebun Joseph (Antiracism Specialist). 
• Panel of discussion 1: Employed and Unemployed migrant women – Liliana Fernandez (Programme Manager Common Purpose). Favour Ogundare (CEO Favi Designz Studio). Abimbola Adebiyi (Support Worker Depaul Ireland). Rashidat Adedayo Adeniji (IRCS Ph.D. Researcher; Skilled Migration).  
• Basant Shenouda (Customer Success LinkedIn). Confirmed 
• Panel of discussion 2: Dr Amy Stapleton (ESRI), Siobhan McKenna (Head 
•  ED&I Public Job). Roos Demol (CEO Recruit Refugees Ireland and International Community Dynamics), Anna Greenhalgh (Head of Employment Programmes EPIC), Jeanne McDonagh (CEO Open Doors). 

Key discussion areas and questions 

• What are the experiences of migrant women in accessing the labour market (successes and challenges)?  
• How can we as a nation, politically, locally, and socially tackle the exclusion of migrant women from the Irish labour market? How each of these stakeholders can contribute individually and collectively to promote the inclusion of migrant women and to end racism/discrimination in policies and procedures in the labour market.  
• How can service providers and NGOs best support and empower migrant women in Ireland to access jobs that engage with their experiences and qualifications and speaks to their previous educational background, their work experience and lived experience?  
• How can NGOs build a strong relationship and have an effective communication with governing bodies to address issues migrant women face in the labour market, for example recognition of their qualifications and building capacity? 
• How can migrant women and stakeholders be used to effect change on this issue?  

Click here for more information and to register for the event.