Stronger together towards a more inclusive labour market (STRONGER TOGETHER)

Project title

Stronger together towards a more inclusive labor market (STRONGER TOGETHER)

Project ID

CB0300234

Project program

The project is implemented under the Central Baltic Sea Region Cross-Border Cooperation Program 2021-2027.

Project duration

01.05.2024 – 30.04.2027 (36 months)

Project budget

Total budget of the project is 1 396 403, 84 EUR including European Regional Development Fund funding of 1 117 123,06 EUR. 

Valmiera Development Agencies budget is 352 849,72 EUR including European Regional Development Fund funding of 282 279,77 EUR.

Project partners

  • Valmiera Development Agency, Latvia – lead partner
  • Coompanion Östergötland Economic Association (Coompanion Östergötland Ekonomisk Förening), Sweden
  • The Samaritan Association of Latvia, Latvia

The purpose and tasks of the project

The aim of the project is to create a more inclusive labor market by encouraging employers to implement anti-discrimination policies in their organizations and ensuring the employment of people with intellectual disabilities or other special needs.

Challenges addressed by the project

  • The low employment rate of people with intellectual disabilities or other special needs; 
  • Employers’ lack of knowledge, stereotypes, and concerns about the employment of people with intellectual disabilities or other special needs; 
  • Labor market imbalance, i.e. people with intellectual disabilities or other special needs are ready and able to participate in the labor market, but there is a lack of demand from employers; 
  • Lack of employment services for people with intellectual disabilities or other special needs.

Project activities and results

  • A guide for employers to apply the anti-discrimination policy in the organization will be developed. The guide will also offer practical templates for anti-discrimination policy documents;
  • A training program will be developed and implemented for employers who want to employ people with intellectual disabilities. At least 60 employers from Latvia and Sweden will participate in the training; 
  • A training program for people with intellectual disabilities who want to enter the labor market will be developed and implemented. At least 60 people from Latvia and Sweden will participate in the training; 
  • As a result of the project’s activities, at least 40 Latvian and Swedish employers will apply an anti-discrimination policy, ensuring the employment of people with intellectual disabilities or other special needs; 
  • The results of the project, including created and piloted a new social service “Employee as a service” will become an inspiration and a practical solution for other employers, employers’ organizations, and municipalities in the Central Baltic region.

Contact information

Karline Jakabsone, Project Manager | karline.jakabsone@valmierasnovads.lv | +371 27097013

Anete Todu, Project Communication Specialist | anete.todu@valmierasnovads.lv | +371 26394380

This project is supported as part of STRONGER TOGETHER, an Interreg Central Baltic Programme 2021-2027 project co-funded by the European Union.

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