Searcher for work

Author: Erica Aladino

Nationality: Colombian

Degrees in Psychology and Social Education

Experience in: Health Education, teaching of Social and Personal Skills and social projects

* Series: Stories about skilled immigration and foreign professional women

She was very nervous in her office, breathing shortly, looking at the computer clock and glancing rapidly to the corridor.

It was obvious that Marina was expecting someone.

"Hello, I have an appointment" said a woman, supporting herself on the door frame.

Marina greeted her in a cold and formal way. "Sit down please Madam."

The lady began to talk: "Look, I have a big problem. I am an unemployed woman of more than 45 years old, and know very well that companies do not want to know anyone of my age. I have a lot of experience as a secretary and administrative worker. Do you think you will be able to help me? Is there any work in this?"

Marina replied: "Because of your personal situation, you belong to one of the so called groups in risk of social exclusion; this is a citizen involved centre of integration and our objective is to assist you with the resources that we have or direct you to other suitable assistance."

Whilst Marina was telling her this, she was looking at the woman's arms and elbows on the desk, looking at her dress and jacket, her nails, earrings, and her hair. All the while, below the desk, she was continuously tapping her left foot.

A few minutes past, and the woman, sitting upright, was holding on to both sides of the chair, and when she wasn't doing this, she was strumming her fingers on her skirt.

"Well, as I have said to you, the employment project that we run here looks for work for disabled people, women victims of violence and to immigrants, but because of your situation, I can include you."

At that precise moment, an email arrived to Marina's mailbox, which she read out of the corner of her eye. Marina, it's me, Ana. Is everything alright? If you need anything, just let me know. I'm very close by!

The direct look from the woman made her resume her attention to the meeting.

"Yes, yes, Miss, I understand all that you say to me, that one must help those that need it. Aye those poor ones! “Said the woman, shrugging her shoulders and clapping her hands abruptly on the table.”If you didn't help them, just see how this country would be, a barbarous one. How could you not!"

 When Marina heard the last comment, she breathed deeply, swallowed saliva and lightly snapped the fingers of her right hand. She began then to look at the job offers she had in hand.

It was clear that the girl was going through a bad spell, since at various moments that she could, she would steal a glance to the corridor, as if she wanted to run from the place.

Whilst she was reviewing the job offers, the visitor would not stop nervously from talking. With a high and screechy voice: "of all the companies that I've worked in, which are for numerous years as secretary to management of various firms and now with the crisis, they have been giving me the boot, like an old useless dog."

Marina, at the same time, remembered a telephone conversation she had received three days ago. It was when her work colleague, Rodrigo said to her:

- Marinita, you have to take this call. There is some lady, I think she is Spanish and is full of complaints in order that they close down this little place.

"And? What do I have to do with all of this?" She replied.

The lady says we are obliged to look for work for her, and as you are the one who is responsible in that area…

Marina took the phone and Rodrigo put the call on speaker, keeping his eye on his work colleague the whole time.

"I'm the person responsible for employment. Tell me how I can help you?"

"Listen, you are obliged to help me look for work. I have just spoken with a place that tells me that you help immigrants. What else do they need? They get vouchers to eat, buy books, other social assistance, and now this! No wonder they don't want to return to their own country."

Marina breathed deeply and answered: There are many various employment projects, each and every one of them directed to specific groups, including those that help locals find work. This includes the European Community and not just Spain.

"I don't care what you say. I’m fed up with the polite words and niceties. One must help me out in my desperate situation and at my poor age. I'm sick of having to go from one place to the next, like a yoyo" said the woman on the other side of the phone.

"Before you come to the office I just want to make it clear that this place is especially directed at women victims of violent crime, disabled people and immigrants, ok? I have made an appointment for you for this Thursday at 12pm. When you arrive, please ask for Marina Castaneda."

Marina continued reviewing all her paperwork, with the misfortune that she wasn't finding anything suitable, in reference to the professional profile of the woman in front of her. She was unable to concentrate in her search due to the continuous complaints she was hearing. In a high voice, she went on and on about the government, the crisis, the bad weather, and above all, the cold temperature of the office. " And why don't you put on the heating?" she exclaimed.

Touching her brow, and feeling the sweat that was pouring from her, she said: " Please give me your documentation that you have brought with you"  The woman, hesitating, glancing towards the floor, acting very nervously, looked in her bag, but before doing so asked: " so will you help me?"

Marina turned pale and answered: “it’s my job."

The woman then timidly passed over her documents, the first being her curriculum. This time, with her head hung low, and with a low voice she says: "as you will be able to see in my CV, I have work references also."

“I will help you in building and activating a search plan, looking at all avenues, knocking on many doors, so that all the companies within Madrid and its surrounding areas know of you."

Both got up, and Marina extended her hand to close the meeting and say goodbye, though the woman responded by giving her a huge hug.

"I’m Maria Teresa Beltran, I spoke with you three days ago."

"I know", answered Marina.

" And why didn't you tell me you were an immigrant?" replied the woman.

*Special collaboration and translation: Elaine Connor

Brief career summary

Erica Aladino

My education, a degree in Social Education, has allowed me to work in diverse fields such as Health Education, giving workshops on prevention and community health to both the immigrant and Spanish population. I have also been able to work as a teacher of Social and Personal Skills with groups of social exclusion, such as those with a disability.

This training brings together my other studies related to health, with the psychology degree, the occupational training and being a leisure and free time instructor has allowed me to face projects of occupational resources, active work search, orientation and work intermediation, support in leisure.

English, what for?

By Gabriela Y. Rios

Nationality: Mexican
Teacher of English language Degree in television production and direction

* Series: Stories about skilled immigration and foreign professional women

My first grade teacher would always call me to the front of the class to read books in English. So there I was with my perfect American accent self-conscious that classmates all wore branded clothes while mine were bought at the market.

One day I told my father –I don’t want to attend this rich kids' school anymore. He looked at me and replied –darling you have to understand that it is really important that you study English and this is the only bilingual school in town. – But dad English? What for? I complained. – It’s essential for your future and although you might think is a pain in the neck, one day you will appreciate it, he explained. 

And so I grew up listening incessantly to my father talk about the importance of learning a second language. Years later when I started looking into colleges, once again my father brainwashed me to attend The University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) even though what I really wanted was to go to Mexico City because I had always dreamt about working in the soap operas.

When I arrived to Spain due to a strong force called love, I had the intention of continuing my professional career in TV production but little did I know about the industry here in Spain. A colleague recommended me to turn up with my CV to the offices of a production company in Alcobendas where he worked in order to find out if there was a suitable position for me. As I entered the building, there were pictures of Spanish famous people all throughout the hall that took me to the office where an approximately 40-year-old guy looked through the sheet of paper that I handed in and simply just said –your experience does not match any position here because in this country the TV industry does not have as many resources.

My smile faded in a second after realizing that eleven years of my life were worth nothing here. When he saw my face, he reacted by saying –if you really want a job here you can work as an intern or as production assistant, but I have to warn you that there are no fixed schedules and is hard work.  I am used to doing whatever it takes to make a living, so I replied –I don’t mind starting over again as long as I have an opportunity. The guy looked at me in surprise and started to explain the situation about the demand in the labor market of this sector and its salary conditions. As he was talking, I did the math in my head and couldn’t believe how someone was able to live with that kind of income.  –I have your information so I will call you, he concluded.

I left his office very disappointed but I still had to stop by and thank my friend who recommended me for this interview.  While I was walking through the cubicles I only saw youngsters in jeans and t-shirts except for the thirty-something-year-old reflected against the light of the window who was wearing a blue suit and high heels.

– How did it go? Asked my friend.

– It was OK but it wasn’t what I was expecting, I replied.

It was about lunch time so he invited me to go with him and his co-worker to the cafeteria to keep chatting. My friend’s colleague was Colombian and he told me that if they called me, they wouldn’t hire me until I had my resident card so after drinking a cup of coffee mixed with two teaspoons of reality, I took the bus home.

When I arrived, I turned my computer on to seek for some comfort chatting with a friend online but when I opened my email I had a message from a fellow Mexican living in Spain that read “they are desperately looking for a personal English tutor for a high-school girl and her teenage brother. If you are interested please contact Mrs. Carmen Revilla”. I called her right away not because I was excited about the idea but because if I had to wait eight months to be legal to work, on the mean time I could keep myself busy helping these kids do their homework.

Since in the north of México where I was born, speaking English is not only an extravagance but also a must, I had no idea what I could charge per teaching hour in Spain.  I immediately started to enquire and I realized that with very few hours per week, I could earn enough to live and there was no need to belong to the social security system.

Time went by fast because I was content with such an interesting challenge. Once I was eligible to work legally, I started to look for more opportunities as a teacher. I’d had any teaching experience before but just because I spoke English as a native speaker, job opportunities had never stopped coming, so I now don’t even bother knocking on any TV production’s door. To this day, sometimes when I walk on my way to classes, I think about the many times I nodded with my unhappy face to my father’s chats.

Brief career summary

Gabriela Y. Rios

I graduated from the University of Texas at El Paso with a Bachelor’s Degree in Media advertising and film studies. I worked for almost ten years in different positions within the media such as writing publishing, TV, radio and online production.

I moved to Spain to study a master’s in film direction and decided to stay only to work mostly as an English teacher and translator. Most recently, I have finished another master's degree in business management and marketing that has given me the opportunity to get started in the exciting world of online marketing.

Únete a la Red Europea de Mentoring Político

Hasta el 11 de febrero de 2013 tienes plazo para expresar tu interés de unirte a la Red Europea LEM de Mentoring Político, para mujeres de origen extranjero o pertenecientes a minorías étnicas.

A partir de febrero 2013 y hasta las elecciones del Parlamento Europeo en mayo de 2014, el Lobby Europeo de Mujeres coordinará una Red de Mentoras Políticas que conectará a entre 8 y 12 mujeres integrantes del Parlamento Europeo, de diferentes partidos políticos y de distintos países con 8 a 12 mujeres de origen extranjero o pertenecientes a minorías étnicas que estén interesadas en postularse para las elecciones al Parlamento Europeo o que deseen jugar un papel activo en la campaña del Parlamento Europeo en mayo de 2014.

¿Quién puede ser una aprendiz en esta red?
El objetivo es aportarle una visión práctica sobre los asuntos europeos, que te ayudará a conocer gente nueva y ampliar tu red política, al igual que brindarte las herramientas para competir y llegar a una buena posición en la lista de tu partido político para las próximas elecciones europeas.

¿Quiénes son las mentoras?
Son mujeres, actualmente diputadas de diferentes países y partidos políticos, dispuestas a compartir sus consejos y experiencia contigo.

¿Cuáles son las condiciones para incorporarse a la Red como un aprendiz?
Las aprendices de la Red Europea EWL Mentoring Político son:

Mujeres con antecedentes migratorios o de una minoría étnica que viven en la Unión Europea. Ya involucradas en la política a nivel local, regional y / o nacional;
Elegibles e interesadas en postularse para las próximas elecciones europeas de junio de 2014.
Comprometidas con los derechos de las mujeres.
Tener un buen conocimiento de Inglés, ya que será el idioma utilizado en las sesiones de formación (aunque podría utilizar un lenguaje diferente con su mentor)

Ten en cuenta que también se tendrán en cuenta las solicitudes de las mujeres interesadas en formar parte de un equipo de campaña.

¿Cómo puedes participar?
Si cumples con los requisitos, puedes crear tu perfil personal hasta el 11 de febrero de 2013. Deberás adjuntar un breve CV en Inglés, así como un formulario de solicitud disponible aquí. Si eres seleccionado, nos pondremos en contacto contigo para una entrevista personal para conocer más acerca de tu motivación y expectativas. A continuación, iniciaremos el proceso de hacer coincidir tu perfil con las diputadas participantes, a fin de encontrar tu "alma gemela”.

Los gastos de viaje, alojamiento y estancia serán cubiertos por el Lobby Europeo de Mujeres durante tu estancia en Bruselas, Estrasburgo y / o el país de origen del MEP (con base en un acuerdo). Sin embargo, ni a los aprendices ni a los mentores se les paga por su participación en la red. Este es un compromiso voluntario que requiere de tu plena participación.

Descarga el folleto para conocer más acerca de la Red de Mentoría Política del LEM aquí.
http://www.womenlobby.org/spip.php?article4491&lang=en

 Si tienes problemas para registrarte en la base de datos, por favor envía tu formulario completo de solicitud y CV en Inglés a: bach@womenlobby.org

La fecha límite para presentar la solicitud: 11 de febrero 2013!

Más información: bach@womenlobby.org

Principales formas de acoso laboral que sufren las mujeres inmigrantes

La actual crisis económica que vive España ha disparado los casos de acoso en el trabajo hasta el punto que gran parte de las demandas laborales señalan como origen de estas causas judiciales, el acoso psicológico en lugar de trabajo. Las cifras manejadas por los expertos señalan que hasta un 45% de las demandas que se presentan a las autoridades del caso, tienen su origen en problemas de acoso laboral en el lugar del trabajo y dentro de este contexto, las personas más vulnerables a sufrir este tipo de “mobbing”, -y según estudios del Ministerio de Igualdad-, son las mujeres ya que un 65% de los casos presentados corresponden a mujeres y en especial, el de las mujeres embarazadas, ya que el embarazo en una trabajadora supone en muchos casos una discriminación que suele culminar con el despido.

En el caso de las trabajadoras inmigrantes y en el caso de las que proceden de Latinoamérica, el porcentaje de mujeres se eleva al 56%, característica esta última, que agrega un elemento más al “mobbing” que sufren las mujeres trabajadoras en diferentes ámbitos laborales: Dentro de éstos, el servicio doméstico, -en especial el llamado de “las internas”- merece una mención especial ya que es en éste, donde la presión y acoso laboral se ejerce de manera casi “invisible” en los prolongados horarios de trabajo, la limitación de los días de salida cuando no, una estrecha vigilancia de la alimentación, uso de aparatos eléctricos y/o restricciones en el uso de facilidades de la vivienda tales como calefacción o uso de ventiladores dependiendo de la estación del año.

Seguir leyendo

"El Arcén de cristal": la vulnerabilidad de la inmigración femenina en el ámbito laboral

Resumen: En los años anteriores a la crisis económica y financiera, y ante la demanda creciente de
“Capital humano”, en los países de acogida se observó un aumento de la presencia de mujeres en las corrientes migratorias. Para analizar este contexto de vulnerabilidad de las mujeres inmigrantes, se estudian las redes sociales en los procesos migratorios: Teoría de la fuerza de los lazos débiles (Gurack y Caces, 1998). Así mismo, a partir de la acepción de invisibilidad propuesta en la Teoría del techo de cristal, se propone la metáfora de “El Arcén de cristal”.
Esta metáfora alude a que la mayoría de las mujeres inmigrantes en España tienen grandes dificultades para acceder al mercado de trabajo regulado y por tanto encontrándose en situación de vulnerabilidad.

Artículo completo

Cruz Roja ofrece apoyo a emprendedoras

Ante el actual contexto socioeconómico las iniciativas emprendedoras se han convertido en salidas y formas de subsistencia para muchas personas. Las dificultades a las que se enfrentan los emprendedores son muchas y variadas en estos momentos y el punto de madurez de su negocio para afrontar la crisis es en estos momentos decisivo para su supervivencia.
Con el fin de apoyar a mujeres inmigrantes emprendedoras, con las que Cruz Roja lleva trabajando desde el año 2002 y ante una reflexión compartida con la Secretaría de Estado del Ministerio de Sanidad, Política Social e Igualdad se ponen en marcha unas medidas específicas para consolidar pequeños negocios para que el empleo autónomo de mujeres inmigrantes no fracase y se cierre por dificultades económicas, financieras, técnicas y administrativas.
Cruz Roja utilizando una metodología flexible ofrece realizar visitas “in situ” para obtener un diagnostico de la situación particular, las debilidades y fortalezas de cada negocio, ofrecerles una formación específica y una ayuda experta para cada caso, además de sugerencias de mejora para el futuro.
De manera complementaria al apoyo específico a cada negocio se realizará un estudio sobre el impacto del autoempleo y los microcréditos para conocer la situación de las microempresas puestas en marcha por mujeres y analizar las variables que pueden llevarles al éxito o al fracaso para seguir apoyando el autoempleo desde los Servicios Integrados de Empleo de Cruz Roja Española
En la Comunidad de Madrid cualquier mujer inmigrante emprendedora que necesite apoyo para consolidar su negocio puede dirigirse a:

Cruz Roja Española Comunidad de Madrid
Marian Elgueta (Programa de Empleo)
Teléfono: 91 5325555 ext. 51807
Mail: melgueta@cruzroja.es
C/ Muguet, 7 - 28044 Madrid

Cruz Roja defiende que el empleo es un derecho fundamental y una herramienta de inclusión social, por ello establece actuaciones y programas de inserción que intentan reducir las barreras que existen para acceder y mantenerse en el mercado laboral.

Convocatoria para proyectos de cooperación al desarrollo

Hasta el 15 de octubre está abierta la convocatoria de Proyectos de Cooperación al Desarrollo del Grupo Tragsa, que tiene como objeto la elección de proyectos  de colaboración en actuaciones solidarias desarrolladas, preferentemente en las zonas geográficas y sectoriales prioritarias establecidas por AECID (de acuerdo al Plan Anual de Cooperación Internacional 2012).

Mayor información:

http://www.tragsa.es/SiteCollectionDocuments/Responsabilidad%20Social%20Empresarial/Bases-Convocatoria-2013.pdf

Ciudadanía y Estado del Bienestar: La inmigración femenina en España

Ivnvestigación de: José Adelantado y Raquel Moreno
El Estado del Bienestar es un modelo institucional típico del desarrollo del estado-nación en Europa Occidental a lo largo del siglo XX. Es sucesor del Estado liberal decimonónico y se le atribuyen como finalidades propias conseguir la igualdad de oportunidades y la redistribución de recursos mediante un conjunto de políticas sociales. EI desarrollo del EB muestra la correspondencia entre la intensidad de los derechos y el tipo de asalarización de la fuerza de trabajo según clase, sexo y origen geográfico: sistemáticamente se observa que los hombres han disfrutado de más derechos que las mujeres y ambos que los y las inmigrantes. En ese contexto, el objeto de este trabajo consiste en averiguar la relación que vincula los derechos de ciudadanía con las desigualdades de clase-género-inmigración, relación esta menos estudiada, sobre lodo en relación aI Estado deI Bienestar en Espana.
Documento completo