SALAM Workshops: Inclusive Labour Market in Barcelona
The Servei Públic d'Ocupació de Catalunya (SOC) hosted the third SALAM Workshops and Peer Learning Event on 16–17 June 2025 in Barcelona, bringing together partners and stakeholders from across Europe to engage in two days of collaborative learning, field visits, and policy dialogue. The Participative Workshop highlighted Catalonia’s multi-level and people-centred approach to migrant labour market integration.
The event gathered project partners and stakeholders from across Europe for two days of participatory workshops, institutional presentations, site visits, and bilateral meetings focused on improving policies and practices for the labour market inclusion of migrants.
The first day opened with institutional greetings from Francisco Ramos, Secretary of Labour of the Generalitat de Catalunya, and an overview of the regional migration framework by David Moya, Director General for Migration and Refugees. Susana Diaz, Deputy Director of SOC, presented SOC’s core strategies supporting immigrant integration into the labour market.
Participants then attended a technical session on Catalonia’s First Reception Service, presented by Rosa Sancho, followed by a local case study of the Sant Hilari Sacalm Citizenship Plan, delivered by Erika Zárate from Resilience Earth.
In the afternoon, attendees visited Formació i Treball, a social enterprise supporting labour market inclusion for vulnerable groups. The organisation is a key implementer of the ACOL policy, which facilitates migrant employment through contracts linked to training and social support.
The day continued with a visit to Barcelona Activa, the city’s economic development agency. Presentations by Xavier Dumont and Cinta Arasa showcased support mechanisms for entrepreneurship and job placement, including for migrants and newcomers.
The second day featured an in-depth focus on the ACOL programme, presented by Marta Cañellas, Head of Employment Opportunities Programmes at SOC. A roundtable followed, showcasing implementation examples from Consell Comarcal del Bages and Mescladís, including a testimonial from a former programme participant.
A second panel addressed private sector engagement in migrant labour market integration, with speakers from PIMEC, Foment del Treball Nacional, and the Mayor of Guissona, who shared experiences and recommendations on inclusive hiring.
In the afternoon, the group visited Grameimpuls, the economic development agency of Santa Coloma de Gramenet. Participants explored the city’s employment and training centres, including the Restoration School, where the event’s final lunch took place. The closing session featured remarks from Mireia González, Mayoress of Santa Coloma, as well as representatives from SOC and the Generalitat de Catalunya.
To conclude, bilateral meetings were held among SALAM project partners to strengthen collaboration on key policy instruments, including lifelong learning alliances, the Tübingen Model, and actions to address language barriers and access to social protection.
The Barcelona seminar provided a valuable platform for knowledge exchange on migrant labour inclusion policies and practices. By combining strategic presentations with field visits and peer learning, SALAM partners gained insights directly from local stakeholders and practitioners. The Catalan experience showcased how multilevel cooperation and targeted programmes like ACOL can facilitate more inclusive labour markets. The next SALAM peer learning event will continue to build on these exchanges, promoting cross-regional learning and supporting the development of sustainable integration pathways throughout the partnership.