More Equality for Young Migrants with Anonymous Job Application
“Smart Selection”, a pilot project based in Zurich, demonstrates after one year’s experience that young migrants presenting their job application in an anonymous form have better chances of being employed. This result was annonced to the press end of September 2008. Studies have shown that young people in search of a training or a job have not the same chances of being selected if their name sounds Swiss or foreign, whatever their qualifications and competences. The subject was also raised in the Parliament. In Geneva, such an experience had also shown positive result in 2006.
Supported by the Swiss Society of Commercial Employees and the Cantonal Office for Professional Training, the Zurich project seeks to reduce the risk of discrimination for young migrants with little administrative charges. Young applicants can fill a dossier online, where no personal information that could lead to discrimination is shown (such as gender, family name, mother language or nationality). If a firm is interested, they can contact the candidate directly.
- Web site Smart Selection or We are Ready
Plateform (in German) for anonymous job application
Issue raised in Parliament
In March 2007, the Parliamentarian Anita Fetz (SP, BS) raised the issue during a session. The government admitted the problem and recognised the importance of work for the integration of young foreigners. During a short debate at the Council of States, everyone agreed that anonym job applications could be part of the solution.
- Empêcher les discriminations à l'encontre de jeunes portant un patronyme étranger
Interpellation (07.3265) by Anita Fetz (BS/SP), March 2007
Inequality scientifically proven
Two National Research Programme (NRP Nr 52 on Childhood and Youth; Fibbi / Kaya Piguet 2003 and PRR Nr 51 on Integration and Exclusion; Imhof 2006) have presented results demonstrating the discrimination in practice made by employers towards job applications sent by young migrants. They will rather use criteria such as mother language or nationality rather than school results or other work or social experience. An experience showed that similar application sent with a typical Balkan name were often not even acknowledged while those with a typical Swiss name ended with a job interview.
- Mesures de lutte contre les discriminations à l'embauche
SFM Study – 40 by Rosita Fibbi, November 2005 (pdf, 66p.) - Sélection
des apprentis dans les petites et moyennes entreprises (PME) –
intégration et exclusion lors du passage de l’école à l’apprentissage
professionnel
Summary in French of the main results of PNF 51, June 2006
Further sources of information (in French & German)
- Une meilleure égalité des chances grâce aux candidatures anonymes pour ceux qui désirent se lancer dans un apprentissage (pdf, 1p.)
Press release by the Société suisse des employés de commerce, 29 Septembrer 2008 - Schlussbericht zum Projekt (pdf, 62p.)
Final report on the Zurich pilot project (in German) - Mesures
exemplaires de la Société suisse des employés de commerce contre
l'exclusion de jeunes en recherche de place d'apprentissage (pdf, 1p.)
Press release by the FederalCommission against Racism, 18 Octobrer 2007 - De meilleures chances avec une candidature anonyme?
Swissinfo, 8 October 2007
Update: 01.10.2008
