Transcript Migrant_skills_transfer_in_aquaculture_industry_Greece_Egypt

Migrant skills transfer in the aquaculture
industry:
The case of Greece and Egypt
Building upon the capacities of an
extensive fisheries workforce.
Report on the first six months of project
activities: Greece.
Key Port probing (fishermen resorts)
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Central Greece
Piraeus-Salamis-Lavrion
Volos area-Evia
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Northern Greece
Mihaniona-Kavala-Alexandroupolis
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Corinthian bay and western coasts
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Aegean islands and Ionian islands
Interviewing Egyptian fishermen
Activities conducted:
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Technology learning
Trade learning
Questionnaire structuring
Questionnaire testing
Questionnaire validation
Survey implementation
Database development
Leader identification
Potential trainees identification
Facts & Findings (1/3)
• Our (preliminary) estimate is that 8000 Egyptian migrants are currently employed
within fisheries in Greece.
• The quasi-totality of randomly interviewed Egyptian fishermen working in Greece are
residents of DUMYAT, (Damietta) region in the northernmost part of the Nile delta.
• To-date , all interviewed fishermen (over 150 ) were found to have a regular legal
status in Greece.
• Two broad categories : Green Cards (permanent) and 9 month working visa (circular
migration)
• A considerable part of them works in Greece for over 10 years, their mission being to
finance the construction of the family house.
• Their total earnings are comparatively high (1200-1600 euros/ per month)
Facts & Findings (2/3)
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Computer use is not infrequent among those who have Green cards
(over 7 yrs in Greece, aged 25-35).
They start migrating at early ages (17-18 yrs old) using kinship
networking.
Dexterities gained while in Greece have to do mostly with modern
machinery fishing equipment.
Greek language is adequately spoken while writing in Arabic is often
inadequate
Leadership is relatively easy to identify and its expression not
infrequent - acclaimed by the group’s behavior
Facts & Findings (3/3)
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In recent years a deterioration of job opportunities is
observed due to EU directives for the retirement of fishingboats.
Greek ship owners are compensated while no provision is
taken for unemployed legal immigrants.
Sudden loss of jobs causes frustration and tendency to go
illegal.
Insufficient legal support is observed in case of accidents and
fraudulent acts
Leadership (1/3)
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Up to twospatial
per major
port areas x 5 =10
Tentative
distribution
Piraeus, Salamina, Mihaniona, Kavala, Alexandroupolis
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One per medium ports x 6 = 6
Lavrion, Volos Chalkis, Patras, Kilini, Mesologi
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One per major islands x 6 = 6
Evvoia, Lesvos, Chios, Samos, Rhodes, Crete
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One per smaller island groups x 2 = 2
Cyclades, Ionian,
= 24
Leadership (2/3)
Criteria
• Years of work & stay
• Legal status
• Language and communication skills
• Computer literacy
• Onshore residence
• Family status
• Work position on ship
• Broadened trade activities
• Attitude towards our up-skilling project
Leadership (3/3)
Planned leadership + info meetings
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Kavala (April 4th)
Alexandroupolis (April 6th)
Michaniona (???)
Volos ( April , second week)
Salamina (May, second week)
Piraeus, (May third week)
*info meetings scheduling is conditional to the supply of info on job opportunities in Egypt
(EAGA)
Egyptian learned community in Greece
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Two mainon
cities:
Athens-Salonika
Research
progress
Universities
Research centers
Arab-Hellenic Chamber of Commerce
Labor union of Egyptians in Greece
Association of Greek - Egyptiots
Key Aquaculture companies/sites
probing
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Identification
Ranking
Mapping locations
Approaching the top 6 for collaboration
Mapping Egyptian workers and technicians
Survey
Database development
Open architecture and open source
software (MySQL RDBMS).
Provides easy integration with the
website under development and
efficient storage of our data.
One database for fisherman and AC
workers and one dedicated to the
learned community
Website development
Additional output
Through the website we
provide access to the
databases of the workers, an
option for a worker to enlist in
the database, a blog service
where news and events will be
announced.
We consider adding a forum
for workers to communicate.
Joint Research/Development
Initiated contacts with:
-Damietta University
-Mansura University
Six months achievements
Main accomplishments
• Over 30% (160/500) of fisheries questionnaires completed and compiled
• 65 AC workers and technicians registered (estimated total = 500)
• 10 community leaders identified (criteria compliance)
• Database filled with first 50 entries
• Website developed at final stage before publishing on the web
• Visit to Damietta region/establishment of local community relations
• First info day scheduled for first week of April in Kavala
• Port and local authorities informed
• 6 AC companies informed
• Contacts undertaken and collaboration in progress with the Egyptian Labor Union
and the Egyptian Embassy.
• Greek Embassy and Consulate informed
Main discrepancies
• Six month target not achieved in the registration of AC workers
• Questionnaire to the learned society not yet tested
• Egyptian learned society not yet fully registered
• Info days on job opportunities in Egypt subject to the supply of data
expected from the Egyptian side.
• Greek AC training curriculum definition subject to the supply of AC
training needs from the Egyptian side
Unexpected threats
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Strained Greek economy
Steep unemployment raise
Fish demand shrinkage
Aquaculture faces sudden crisis
Threat on immigrant jobs raising
Egyptian fishermen strike in Salonika Port !!!
Issues requiring resolution
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Egyptian fishermen on strike (working mostly on trawlers)
become reluctant to supply personal data
Fear of job and revenue loss hinders their decision to move to
AC
Key AC firms in sudden distress seem to step back on
dispensing free of charge training
Egyptian fishermen demand subsistence, accommodation and
work compensation during training period
Measures envisaged to overcome
problems
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Propose to postpone planned April interviews with
trawler fishermen till the end of the strike
- Contingency solution : Trawler fishermen to be
interviewed during summer vacations in Damietta
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Allow compensation to trainees and trainers
- Number of trainees to be reduced
- Budget allocations to be internally modified
- Budget to be increased
- Combination of the above
Lessons learned – IOM relevant ideas
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Fisherman communities are spatially concentrated with high
level of illiteracy, generation transmitted skills and a
customary ability to move across sea borders. It is to be
validated that these communities have similar migration
characteristics across cultures
Migration occurs through organized networks which while not
trafficking are not immune from human exploitation
Ties with homeland need to be empowered with the potential
use of internet technologies
‫‪Egyptian Agribusiness Association‬‬
‫جمعية رجال األعمال لإلنتاج و التصنيع الزراعي‬
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The Egyptian Agribusiness Association
(EAGA) is a non-profit NGO”.
that aims to serve the Agribusiness
community through:
Support for industry integrated
clusters to represent, advocate
and achieve their members’ collective
interests.
Councils
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Egyptian Fish Council
Egyptian Olive Council
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Egyptian Meat Council
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Egyptian Poultry Council.
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Dairy production council
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Egyptian Seeds association
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The Egyptian Fish Council was established in 2005,
and aims to represent the workers in the private
sector in all disciplines working in the fishing
industry, based on the recommendations of the
workshops held in Egypt in cooperation with experts
in fish and the Dutch side a number of Egyptian
private sector representatives In addition to a
number of scientists and experts in universities and
scientific institutes.
 To develop the fishing industry in Egypt, which
includes the activities of fish farming, fishing and
related industries ,the development of information
system and a map of fish investment in Egypt in
order to allow Arab and foreign investors to invest
in this area in addition to support small farmers and
fishermen financially and technically , and support
stalled projects to solve their problems.
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Our Members represents a huge part of
the sector from different governorates all
over Egypt north & South
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( Kafr EL sheikh , Damietta, Fayoum, Port
Said, Sharqeya, Alexandria, Ismailia ,
Arish , Luxor
Achievemen
t
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Training for the sector workers where we reach 300
trainee during the last 3 years
Study tour in different countries
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Attending the most important Expo in the world
yearly
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Organizing Conferences( Nationa & International) &
WorkShop on a large scale for the whole sector
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Trying to help fish farms to get ISO & EU
accreditation
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Different studies to cover the sector needs that was
represented to the minister
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A new pilot project for the closed recirculation
system to be applied for the first time in Egypt
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4 adds of a special magazine ( ASMAK )
Mapping & registration
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In cooperation with Most of the Associations , businessmen
involved and related to the Aqua Culture Industry and the
Egyptian Fish Council EAGA is collecting data from different
sources to build trusted data network that can be used in any
future data collection and data delivery to the fishermen
community.
A National Registration Network is being developed in
Cooperation with most of the fishermen leaders all over Egypt
to Lay hands on the total population of Egyptian businessmen
and specialists active in the field of Aqua Culture.
Survey
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A national Survey is being conducted to
identify the achievements and success
stories in the Aqua Culture industry in
different levels ( business & Fishermen
levels) to be used as a model in raising the
awareness in future .
A questionnaire is sent to all the trusted
buddies related to the AC in Egypt to
identify the major problems facing the
industry .
Physical and Electronic
Networking
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A data software house is being developed in SQL
server Database format that will be used as an
information desk in the Help desk that will be
created in Egypt by the end of the project.
The data base will contain but not limited to all the
up-to-date information about the Aqua culture
industry in Egypt.
An electronic Recruitment center is being developed
to fill the gap between the Business aquaculture
sector and the fishermen seeking for better
opportunities in Egypt and Greek.
Web-based Data center
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All the developed databases will be connected to
the website to insure a better communication
between :Egyptian learned society locally in Greece and
internationally with their counterparts in Egypt.
The Egyptian counterpart organization, with
their counterparts around the world
Website & Database development
Database Development 1/7
Egypt Fish Farmers:
Farmer Data sheet ( Personal and social Data)
Farmer Training Courses.
Egypt Farmers:
Farmer Data sheet
Farmer Training Courses.
Egypt Farms Managers:
Manager Data sheet
Manager Training Courses.
Database Development 2/7
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Academic Institutes:
– Academy Application Form
– Academy Services and specialty.
Consultants DB:
– Consultant name & Rank
– Biography.
Research Centers
– Free published researches.
– Paid for researches.
– Submit research
– Annual Reports
Database Development 3/7
Governmental Bodies in the Area
DB:
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Ministry of agriculture
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Rolls and regulations.
Authorization Requirements.
Governorates contacts.
Ministry of aggregation
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Rolls and regulations.
Authorization Requirements.
Governorates contacts.
Database Development 4/7
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Ministry of environmental affairs.
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Rolls and regulations.
Authorization Requirements.
Governorates contacts.
Ministry of scientific research.
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Rolls and regulations.
Authorization Requirements.
Governorates contacts.
Website & Database development
Database Development 5/7
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International Federation for
aquaculture.
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Rolls and regulations.
Authorization Requirements.
Governorates contacts.
Database Development 6/7
Non Governmental associations DB:
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Commercial Chambers DB:
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Executive regulations.
Managers
Targets & Objectives.
Board Members
Councils
Executive regulations.
Services
Importers & Exporters:
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Importers DB
Exporters DB
Database Development 7/7
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Linkage to in Greek :
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Universities.
Technology
Labs
Associations
Government services
Labor