Appropriate Employment for Segregated Roma: Mechanisms in a Public–Private Partnership Project

Lucia Bosakova, Andrea Madarasova Geckova, Jitse P. van Dijk and Sijmen A. Reijneveld
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Lucia Bosakova: Department of Health Psychology and Research Methodology, Medical Faculty, P.J. Safarik University in Kosice, Trieda SNP 1, 040 11 Kosice, Slovakia
Andrea Madarasova Geckova: Department of Health Psychology and Research Methodology, Medical Faculty, P.J. Safarik University in Kosice, Trieda SNP 1, 040 11 Kosice, Slovakia
Jitse P. van Dijk: Olomouc University Society and Health Institute, Palacky University in Olomouc, Univerzitni 22, 771 11 Olomouc, Czech Republic
Sijmen A. Reijneveld: Department of Community and Occupational Medicine, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Antonius Deusinglaan 1, 9713 AV Groningen, The Netherlands

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 10, 1-18

Abstract: Our earlier article showed that increased employability of segregated Roma may improve their well-being and health. To achieve that, appropriate employment based on a public–private partnership could be the key. For optimal design of such a partnership, we need insight into its potential mechanisms. Evidence on this is lacking, however. This paper builds on the previously published article by focusing on mechanisms for achieving better health. Therefore, our aim was to identify the potential mechanisms by which a public–private Roma employment project could increase employability. We investigated a Roma employment project called Equality of Opportunity established by a private company, U.S. Steel Kosice in eastern Slovakia. We conducted a multi-perspective qualitative study to obtain key stakeholders’ perspectives on the potential mechanisms of a public–private Roma employment project in terms of increased employability. We found three types of mechanisms. The first type regarded formal job mechanisms, such as an appropriate employment and salary offer and a bottom-up approach in capacity building. The second type involved sustainability mechanisms, such as the personal profile of project and work-shift coordinators, the continuous offer of training and cooperation with relevant stakeholders (municipalities, community centers, etc.). The third type was cultural mechanisms, such as personal contact with project participants, attention to less-voiced groups like children, the motivation of project participants, a counter-value reciprocity approach and respect for the specifics of Roma history. Our findings imply that policymakers could consider public–private partnerships for increasing the employability of segregated Roma, as they have the potential to address a wider range of social needs simultaneously.

Keywords: deprivation; unemployment; employability; mechanisms; segregated Roma (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
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