Hrvoje Butković, Scientific Adviser at IRMO’s Department for European Policies, participated in an exchange meeting organized as part of the project “Empowering Migrant Workers for a Sustainable Future: Upskilling and Reskilling for Green and Digital Jobs – EMERALD”. The meeting took place on 7–8 October 2026 at the Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) in Sofia. During the meeting, Alen Stranjik, a representative of Ambitio College, presented the results of training programs for migrant workers conducted in Zagreb during June and July in cooperation with IRMO representatives. The programs focused on organic vegetable production and the installation of photovoltaic panels, with a total of 25 participants completing the training. The meeting featured workshops dedicated to ensuring the long-term impact of the EMERALD training model and the sustainability of the so-called Reskilling Labs, during which national institutional representatives discuss key aspects of the planned training activities. The program also included a visit to the career center of Caritas Bulgaria, one of the project partners, as well as discussions with selected migrant workers who had successfully completed the training programs implemented in Bulgaria. The EMERALD project runs from early 2025 to October 2027 and is coordinated by Soleterre, a Milan-based organization, in partnership with IRMO, Ambitio College and approximately ten other organizations from several European countries. The project aims to promote the establishment of a public-private cooperation framework for the development of training and reskilling programs in sectors experiencing growing demand for green and digital skills, while contributing to the sustainable integration of migrant workers into the labor market.
More information about this project is available at: https://irmo.hr/projects/osnazivanje-radnika-migranata-za-odrzivu-buducnost-usavrsavanje-i-prekvalificiranje-za-zelene-i-digitalne-poslove-emerald/
