CEG, the CEOE Foundation and the “la Caixa” Foundation join forces to promote the integration of disadvantaged social groups into the Galician labour market

The Confederation of Entrepreneurs of Galicia (CEG), the CEOE Foundation and the "la Caixa" Foundation have signed an agreement to promote the integration of vulnerable groups into the labour market within the framework of the Incorpora Programme in Galicia.

The president of the Confederation of Entrepreneurs of Galicia (CEG), Juan Manuel Vieites, the president of the CEOE Foundation, Fátima Báñez and the director of the Social Inclusion Area of “la Caixa” Foundation, Cristina Segura, will join forces to promote the integration of vulnerable groups into the labour market within the framework of the Incorpora Programme.

Specifically, CEG, within the framework of the ‘Plan Sumamos. Salud + Economia’ (We Combine Health + Economy Plan), will publicise the content of the “La Caixa” Foundation’s Incorpora Programme for those companies whose economic activity has come to a standstill as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic as well as for those companies interested in filling job vacancies within the framework of the Incorpora Programme.

In addition, these institutions will hold awareness-raising sessions on the value of socio-occupational inclusion as a tool for corporate responsibility within the ‘Sumamos Plan’ or the creation of action protocols and the promotion of entrepreneurship.

The director of the Social Inclusion Area of the “la Caixa” Foundation, Cristina Segura, has stated that “job creation is one of the cornerstones for recovery, and it is crucial that these job opportunities also reach vulnerable populations in Galicia. Alliances such as the one we are announcing today in Galicia with CEG and the CEOE Foundation will enable us to tackle the current situation and focus on the people who have the greatest difficulties to find a job”.

In turn, the president of the CEOE Foundation, Fátima Báñez, highlighted the value of the alliance with CEG and the “la Caixa” Foundation through the Sumamos Plan and the Incorpora Programme, and said: “As a society we will only achieve excellence if we take diversity into account, creating more humane companies that are firmly committed to the inclusion of all, and always putting people at the forefront”. “The commitment of the business community to this goal is unwavering. This alliance is a commitment to social inclusion through employment, so that nobody is left behind”.

Finally, according to the president of the Galician Confederation of Employers, Juan Manuel Vieites, “the pandemic has put us to the test. The enormous destruction of jobs, the change of paradigm in social and labour relations, and the increase of situations of vulnerability require new strategies with regard to assisting workers, especially the those that are most vulnerable”.

Vieites considers that employment is the most important asset to ensure that the long-awaited economic recovery benefits everyone: “We want to play an active role in the recovery and in the fight against poverty and social exclusion. By signing this agreement, we are demonstrating the social commitment of Galician companies to people and their employability, especially with the most disadvantaged groups”. 

The Plan Sumamos. Salud + Economía’ (in English, Combine Health+Economy Plan)

At the beginning, the CEOE Foundation’s ‘Plan Sumamos’ included a set of five initiatives through which companies have collaborated in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, from screening in workplaces (donating resources, material and spaces), and tracking (through the COVID Radar application), to communication initiatives, assistance to vulnerable groups and vaccinations.

Within the lines of action to help vulnerable people, the ‘Sumamos Plan’ includes not just the ‘Incorpora Programme’, but also the ‘Sustainable Digitalisation’ initiative. It allows participating companies to donate electronic devices which, once reconditioned, are reused by people at risk of exclusion, thus helping to minimise the digital gap.

So far, within the framework of the Sumamos Plan, agreements have been signed with 14 autonomous regions, representing more than 90% of the Spanish population, a hundred large companies and more than 25,000 SMEs have also joined, and more than one million people have benefited.

In this new phase of the fight against the pandemic, the participating companies have shown their willingness to participate in administering the third booster dose, as well as in the flu vaccination campaign. On the other hand, work is being carried out together with the General Council of Psychology in Spain on the mental vaccine, as a basic line of action for the future that will have an impact on programmes for the first mental health assessment of workers.

In addition, a plan has been launched to help those affected by the eruption of the Cumbre Vieja volcano in La Palma, which includes the supply and distribution of basic essentials, psychological support for those affected and, in the medium and long term, help for the economic reactivation of the island of La Palma.

“La Caixa” Foundation’s Incorpora programme

Since 2006, the “La Caixa” Foundation’s Incorpora programme has been promoting throughout Spain the hiring of people with greater difficulties in finding employment, such as people with disabilities, the long-term unemployed, young people in vulnerable situations, immigrants, ex-convicts, and victims of gender-based violence, among others.

Incorpora offers companies advice and support in social responsibility actions, in this case focusing on the integration into the workplace of vulnerable people. In 2020, within the context of the pandemic caused by COVID-19, the programme helped 34,000 people to find jobs thanks to the collaboration of more than 11,700 companies. Of these, 873 jobs and 369 companies were in Galicia.

For more information

Communication Department of the “la Caixa” Foundation

Tel: 608 099 023 (Marina Teixidó) / eMail: mteixido@fundacionlacaixa.org

Communication Department of the CEG:

Tel: 600 966 317 / eMail: comunicacion.ceg17@gmail.com

Communication Department of CEOE Foundation:

Tel: 915 663 400 / eMail: comunicacion@fundacionceoe.es