Why can’t they still offer more business integrations?

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Brocken homes and second-hand shops are experiencing a second spring. Used items are sold like hot cakes because retail prices are rising and rising. Demand has already increased ten percent last year, both at Job and at Salvation Army, two of the largest Brocki operators. Rising trend. Businesses in Switzerland are happy to increase their sales without disclosing the figures to Blick.

All three of Caritas Lucerne’s Brockis sold eleven percent more than last year. Clothing, furniture and household items are in particular demand. “The trend seems to continue this year,” says Daniel von Holzen (61). Caritas manages the markets and shops in Lucerne.

Inflation is not solely responsible for the overflow of second-hand stores. Ukrainian refugees also like to stock up there. “They value clothing more than anything else,” says von Holzen. Blick recently reported on Caritas markets, which recorded unprecedented sales in March.

Like the Salvation Army, Caritas Lucerne runs programs for re-entry into the primary job market. Blick was able to accompany one of the participants, Armando De Sousa (53) in his work. With record sales comes the question: Can Brockis now hire more people as part of business integration? After all, there is so much more to do.

The labor market has completely dried up

Unfortunately it is not that easy. “At the moment we are not getting any registration from RAV or welfare offices because the first job market is very urgently looking for specialists and unskilled workers. Basically, this is a good development, but a challenge for us,” von Holzen says of the problem. He wants to help more people re-enter the job market.

In this country with an unemployment rate of 2.0 percent in March, there is de facto full employment. Some of the people RAV brokered left after two weeks as they got a job in the primary job market. That in itself is good news, but early reintegration is currently challenging Caritas Brockis.

Because Brockis from Caritas Lucerne finance themselves with the sales they generate. However, they also receive contributions for work integration from RAV or welfare offices – although these are currently partially missing. “At the moment we are trying to balance ourselves with sales, as there is a lack of participants. It’s a challenge,” says von Holzen.

Caritas refers to employees employed through a job integration or employment program as contributors. They do not charge a fee, but receive a contribution from the RAV or welfare office. For example, 80 percent of previous salary with RAV. Brockis themselves employed only a few permanent employees.

About 30 participants are currently working at the Brockenstube in Lucerne. But no matter how many, there is a meaningful activity for everyone. “You should always have a good alternative,” says von Holzen. After Corona, for example, there were twice as many attendees as now – and there was still a waiting list.

Missing posts as a challenge

However, Daniel von Holzen does not believe that Caritas will eventually run out of participants. “There’s what’s known as basic unemployment,” he says. In addition, von Holzen expects unemployment to rise again sooner or later. “Then we are ready and can meet the new demand well.”

Business integration is also always social integration. “Participants have colleagues here carrying roughly the same backpack.” Caritas Luzern also supports participants in their job search and trains them for job interviews.

Source :Blick