Manpower New Zealand Celebrates World Refugee Day

SYDNEY, 20 Jun /Medianet International-AsiaNet/ --

Manpower New Zealand recognises World Refugee Day on Saturday, 20 June in support of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees’ (UNHCR) ongoing global efforts to safeguard the rights and well-being of displaced people.

"Given the current economic situation and widespread global uncertainty, the needs of refugees must not be forgotten. By preparing them for and connecting them to long- term, sustainable employment, Manpower makes a meaningful difference in their lives," said Lincoln Crawley, Managing Director of Australia and New Zealand.

"Manpower continues to lead the way in the area of workforce development through our own actions, but also by lobbying, generating awareness and leaning on our peers to commit to best practice. Our ongoing work with the UNHCR is an example of leveraging our core competencies in partnership with governments and businesses that help to provide jobs and job training for refugees," Crawley continued.

According to a comprehensive assessment by the UNHCR of the needs of refugees and other people cared for by the agency, 30 percent were unmet. A third of these were basic and essential services including access to clean water, sanitation, shelter, health care, and protection from violence and abuse.

Manpower’s support for the UNHCR grows out of the company’s values around people and the role of work in their lives. Manpower joined the UNHCR’s Council of Business Leaders at the Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum in 2005. The Council is a network of major multinational corporations committed to developing partnerships with the UNHCR to empower forcibly displaced people and help find durable solutions for them. It is now comprised of Manpower, Microsoft, Nike, PricewaterhouseCoopers and WPP.

"Our partnership with Manpower illustrates how public-private partnerships can make a difference in the daily lives of refugees, including in the context of major outreach events like World Refugee Day. As a member of UNHCR’s Council of Business Leaders, Manpower is one of our key corporate partners and its growing support to UNHCR is highly appreciated and valued," said Olivier Delarue, UNHCR Head of International Corporate and Foundation Partnerships.

In 2006, with the support of Manpower, its employees and the Council of Business Leaders, the UNHCR launched its ninemillion.org campaign, which provides the world’s refugee youth with the chance to change their futures through education and sports. Since the launch of the campaign, Manpower has been a key partner in making ninemillion.org a success through its worldwide efforts to raise awareness and encourage fund-raising and by designating ninemillion.org one of its Corporate Social Responsibility priorities.

Through programs initiated by its local operations throughout the world, Manpower provides people from all walks of life with sustainable livelihoods and helps the disadvantaged and disenfranchised survive and thrive by linking them to work. Manpower’s role as an agent of positive social change, particularly in the area of workforce development, forms the cornerstone of the company's corporate citizenship.

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