Guide of HR hepldesk services in the fashion sectors www.skillsinfashion.eu Integrated program for skills enhancement of human resources in fashion sectors and facilitation of employees mobility in the crossborder region The project co-funded by the European Union (ERDF) and National Funds of Greece and Bulgaria under the European Territorial Cooperation Programme (Greece Bulgaria 2007-2013)
1. INTRODUCTION 1.1. A few words about the Project Skills in Fashion The document which you are holding in your hands constitutes a multifunctional guide for the basic services and the ways by which you can benefit from the Helpdesks for Employment in fashion sectors which were created in the framework of the Project Skills in Fashion. The purpose of the Guide is to offer complete information to the visitors of the Helpdesks whether for entrepreneurs or for unemployed and employees. The Guide provides with a summary of the opportunities for activity and cooperation between Greek and Bulgarian enterprises, while it supports at the same time unemployed or employees of the fashion sectors providing them with precious tips for job search. Overall, the Guide helps to facilitate the cross-border mobility of enterprises and employees, contributing that way to the achievement of one of the most important goals of the project. Thessaloniki, June 2013 with the financial support of the European Territorial Cooperation Programme Greece Bulgaria 2007 2013 co-funded by the European Fund for Regional Development of the European Union Copyright: SKILLS IN FASHION Project Welcome to the HR Helpdesk! The document in your hands constitutes a multifunctional guide for the basic services and the ways you can benefit from the HR Helpdesks established in the framework of the Skills in Fashion Project. The purpose of the Guide is to provide information to the visitors of the Helpdesks entrepreneurs and unemployed / employees. The Guide provides a summary of the opportunities for activity and cooperation between Greek and Bulgarian enterprises, while it supports at the same time unemployed or employees of the fashion sectors providing them with valuable advice for seeking employment. You can find more information in the extended version of the Guide available on the Skills in Fashion project website: http://skillsinfashion.eu/. The fashion industry (clothing, textiles, footwear) significantly developed in the cross-border region of Greece Bulgaria during the period 1995-2010, more notably in the clothing sector. The competitive advantages of the region played their role in that direction. Greece remains the administrative center of design, marketing and sale,s while Bulgaria is the main productive base. The cross-border region of Greece Bulgaria is particularly important for the clothing sector in the European Union. In order to remain competitive, the region must be supported by skilled workforce and mainly by executives with upgraded competences and abilities. The Integrated Program for skills enhancement of human resources in fashion sectors and facilitation of employees mobility in the cross-border region (Skills in Fashion) aims to develop a system for improving and certifying the human resources quality and facilitating labour force mobilisation in the cross-border region through pilot advisory actions and e-learning practices. The guide was prepared for the project Skills in Fashion by GNOSI ANAPTIXIAKI NGO Guide of HR Helpdesk Services in the Fashion Sectors
2. SERVICES FOR ENTERPRISES AND EMPLOYERS 2.1. Work issues and labor legislation in Greece Over the last few years, in the framework of the efforts for Fiscal Adjustment of Greece, the legislative framework of the labour relations is altered continually, creating sometimes uncertainties about the legal obligations of the enterprises. The Law 4046/2012 The recent law 4046/12, having as basic goal the increase of the competitiveness of the Greek economy and the combating of unemployment by reducing the labor costs, came to reverse important data in the workplace. However, on the one hand the lack of analytical law and formulation of the relevant Act of the Ministers Council and on the other hand the content of the relevant Circular of the Labor Ministry have created insecurity in business world and employees. The most important amendments of the legislation which the law made concerned: 1. Salaries The salaries and wages of the National General Collective Work Agreement decreased. Since 14.02.2012 the pay scales of NGCWA were reduced by 22% (compared with the corresponding limits of NGCWA on 01.01.2012). For young people up to 25 years old, the corresponding reduction reaches 32%. The application of the legal provisions and the CWA that provide automatic salary increases due to completion of service time or previous service (maturation) until the unemployment decreases under the percentage of 10% was inhibited. 2. Collective Work Agreements It was defined that the CWA from now on will be only fixed term with maximum duration three years. The interval of extension of regulatory conditions of the CWA, after its expiration, was defined to three months. It was defined that in the phase of aftereffect of CWA (therefore, after the period of three months), only the basic salary and the allowances of maturation, which were enshrined until 14.02.2012 (date of entry into force of the Law 4046/12), of children, education and dangerous work which may be specified by this CWA, are maintained without requiring the consent of the employee. 3. Arbitration It is no longer possible the unilateral recourse to the Arbitration. The object of arbitration is only setting the basic salary or wage and no other fees (such as bonus, allowances, or other compensation, etc). 4. Permanence The permanence that was established by the Internal Regulations or Organizations (such as Public Utilities, Banks, etc) through work agreements the duration of which was connected with the completion of age limit or retirement conditions was abolished. Skills in Fashion Page. 3
2.2. Work issues and labor legislation in Bulgaria Instructions for Employers The employers must be very careful to the unilateral imposition of wage reductions as well as during the conclusion relevant agreements. Staff recruitment Before the conclusion of the work agreement with the employee, the employer must prepare and gather the necessary documents which are saved in the personal folder of the employee (under Decree No 4 from 11/05/1993). The employers must examine thoroughly which CWA is considered applicable in their case and by which way they applied it (ex. because the CWA was declared mandatory or voluntarily?). The employers who do not wish to make salary reductions automatically because of the law, where it is so indicated, should keep their explicit reservation to any recall of their decision, so that they maintain the possibility of this salary reduction for the future (if they need it). For the newly hired, the CWA, which the employer applies to his/her existing staff, may not be applicable. For this reason it is recommended to do a study, so that the newly hired is placed in the correct CWA from the beginning (ex. the National General CWA may be applied to the newly hired, despite the fact that the Clothing CWA will continue to be applied to the existing staff, as it will be formed after 15.02.2012 (ex. without the marriage allowance). Identification The first document that is required is the control of one person s identity identity or another identification document according to the provisions of Bulgarian legislation. On identity are listed some of the elements which are required for the preparation of the contract. The employer can make a copy of the identity document, which must be saved in the staff s file. The copy of the identity card must be certified by the indication of exact copy and it is signed by its owner. For the storage and the elaboration of employees personal data, the employer is obliged to be registered as data provider in the Commission for Personal Data Protection (http://www.cpdp. bg/?p=rubric&aid=12). Certifications Moreover, in every employee s folder must be included the documents which certify that he/she has obtained the education, the specialty, the skills, the certification that are required for the job or for the position for which the person is hired. These documents are obligatory since, according to the labor code, in the work agreement must be written the kind and the degree of the education that is required and achieved from the particular position. Guide of HR Helpdesk Services in the Fashion Sectors
Proof of previous service The required documents for the proof of previous service of an employee are: - professional license - insurance or business license With these documents the person certifies the existence of the required experience for the corresponding position. - Document of medical examination for the initial entry into the labor market. The employee is obliged to certify that his/her health allows him/her to perform the tasks of the work position where he/she is by the presentation of appropriate medical examinations. The original document is stored on the responsibility of the employee. Copy of criminal record In some positions it is required a copy of the criminal record according to the relevant law or regulation governing. This document is edited by the competent District Courts of every region. The copy of every certification for the employer is valid for 6 months. Work agreement with a person under 18 years old When a work agreement is concluded with a person who is under 18 years old, a relevant authorization of the Labor Inspectorate must be submitted. In order to obtain the authorization an application must be submitted at the offices of the Labor Inspectorate with the attached documents that are described in the article 16, paragraph 1 of the decree of 24.07.2006 No 6 d concerning the procedures for the obtaining of work authorization to people under 18 years old. The Labor Inspectorate must decide within 15 days from the application for the authorization. Staff reductions After the dismissal due to closing, the employer is entitled to compensation. If the employer does not wait for the work agreement with the employee to expire, the compensation includes also the period of non-compliance (article 222, par. 1 of the labor code). The compensation is calculated based on the amount of gross wages for the period of time during which the employee is unemployed, but not for more than 1 month. Compensation of four salaries In the case of termination of the contract with compensation the employer pays at least the salaries of 4 months, and maybe more depending on how the parties agree. Maximum compensation limit is not defined by the Bulgarian legislation. The process of dismissal is completed with the payment of compensation. In case where the compensation is not paid within one month from the termination of the contract, it is considered that there has not been termination of the work agreement. In this case, the employment relationship is recovered in the form in which it existed. The dismissal because of overstaffing, as well as the termination of the contract with compensation are made exclusively on the initiative of the employer. The unemployment allowance in these two cases is fully paid for the entire period which is specified by the law, depending on the duration of previous service of the employee. Skills in Fashion Page. 5
2.3. International Exhibitions of the Sector The following table presents the most important international exhibitions in the fashion sectors which will be organized in 2014. The enterprises of the sector can be prepared and register for participation in time in order to reinforce their international profile, their extroversion and their competitiveness. January MILANO MODA UOMO Men s clothing Milan, Italy www.cameramoda.it Bread & Butter Fashion exhibition casual & streetwear Berlin, Germany www.breadandbutter.com Premium Order Berlin Women s clothing Berlin, Germany www.premiumexhibitions.com Modefabriek Clothing exhibition Amsterdam, Netherlands www.modefabriek.nl January- February CIFF Women s, men s, children s Copenhagen, Denmark www.ciff.dk Guide of HR Helpdesk Services in the Fashion Sectors
February Premium Order Düsseldorf Women s clothing exhibition Dusseldorf, Germany www.premiumexhibitions.com PURE LONDON Women s, children s clothing, underwear, accessories and shoes London, England www.purelondon.com Fashion Premiere Women s clothing Salzburg, Austria www.fashion-premiere.at Dessous & Bademoden Salon Underwear Salzburg, Austria www.dessous-salon.at MILANO UNICA Textile fabrics Milan, Italy www.milanounica.it Premium Order Münich Women s clothing Munich, Germany www.premiumexhibitions.com MODA UK Women s, men s clothing, underwear, accessories and shoes Birmingham, England www.moda-uk.co.uk STYL-KABO Clothing, shoes Brno, Czech Republic www.bvv.cz Texworld & Apparelsourcing Paris Textiles, accessories Paris, France www.apparelsourcing.messefrankfurt.com Zoom by Fatex Clothing exhibition private label Las Vegas, USA www.magiconline.com Milano Moda Donna Women s clothing Milan, Italy www.cameramoda.it CPM MOSCOW Women s, men s, children s underwear Moscow, Russia www.cpm-moscow.com Poznan Fashion Fair International clothing exhibition Poznan, Poland www.targimodypoznan.pl Skills in Fashion Page. 7
2.3. International Exhibitions of the Sector February - March Who s next Women s clothing exhibition Paris, France www.whosnext.com March MICAM Shoes, leatherwork, accessories Milan, Italy www.micamonline.com G.D.S. Shoes, accessories Milan, Italy www.gds-online.com June MILANO MODA UOMO Men s clothing Milan, Italy www.cameramoda.it July Bread & Butter Fashion exhibition casual & streetwear Berlin, Germany www.breadandbutter.com Modefabriek Clothing exhibition Amsterdam, Netherlands www.modefabriek.nl Premium Order Düsseldorf Women s clothing exhibition Dusseldorf, Germany www.premiumexhibitions.com Guide of HR Helpdesk Services in the Fashion Sectors
Fatex Clothing exhibition private label Paris, France www.fatex.fr Fashion Premiere Women s exhibition Salzburg, Austria www.fashion-premiere.at August Premium Order Berlin Women s exhibition Berlin, Germany www.premiumexhibitions.com PURE Women s, children s clothing, underwear, accessories and shoes London, England www.purelondon.com CIFF Women s, men s, children s clothing Copenhagen, Denmark www.ciff.dk Dessous & Bademoden Salon Underwear, swimsuit Salzburg, Austria www.dessous-salon.at MODA UK Women s, men s clothing, underwear, accessories, shoes Birmingham, England www.moda-uk.co.uk STYL-KABO Clothing, shoes Brno, Czech Republic www.bvv.cz Skills in Fashion Page. 9
2.3. International Exhibitions of the Sector September CPM MOSCOW Women s, men s, children s clothing, underwear Moscow, Russia www.cpm-moscow.com GTS Shoes and accessories exhibition Dusseldorf, Germany www.gds-online.com Texworld & Apparelsourcing Paris Textiles, accessories Paris, France www.apparelsourcing.messefrankfurt.com Zoom by Fatex Clothing exhibition private label Paris, France www.zoombyfatex.com Milano Moda Donna Women s clothing Milan, Italy www.cameramoda.it Poznan Fashion Fair International clothing exhibition Poznan, Poland www.targimodypoznan.pl Who s next Έκθεση γυναικείων Paris, France www.whosnext.com 2.4. Information Sources For work issues and labor legislation: Ministry of Labor, Social Insurance and Welfare: http:// www.ypakp.gr/ Manpower Employment Organization: http://www.oaed.gr/index.php?lang=el ESPA 2007-2013: www.espa.gr/ Guide of HR Helpdesk Services in the Fashion Sectors
3. SERVICES FOR UNEMPLOYED The process of job search is a difficult and at the same time creative period of one s life, in which you might need to be more than once. How can you convert job search in a creative period of your life? Realize many things about your personality and learn how to use your positive elements to your own benefit Evaluate your experience and your qualifications in order to set achievable goals in your career. Get to know your strengths and the points that you need to improve. Find effective ways to promote yourself. Acquire the skills that will be useful, whatever you do professionally in the future Which are the stages during job search? Job search is a difficult process which requires design, organization, method, planning, system, patience and persistence. Start with careful preparation of your CV. Accompany your CV with a cover letter highlighting your abilities and making your mark in the labor sector where you are interested to get involved. End up to some conclusions for your skills. Select the companies where you would like to work and you can be integrated more easily based on their culture and on how it fits your personality. Activate your own network of contacts and acquaintances through family and friends, old colleagues, teachers, clubs, chambers. The persistence and the use of all tool will help you to achieve your goal. Skills in Fashion Page. 11
Do not forget that With patience you avoid disappointments and you give yourself space and time to get what he wants. Impatience only increases stress and brings fatigue which will disorientate and will delay you. Which are the best ways to search for a job? The most modern ways are: Valid websites, where the candidate can submit his/her CV. Companies websites, where advertisements are published. Contact the Department of Human Resources of each company which you are interested in and send your CV. Participation in Career Days, where you can do on the spot interviews with notable companies, such as those made by the project Skills in Fashion. Find out about the activities of the Liaison Office of the institution which you graduated from. Take advantage of seasonal work to gain experience. The most traditional ways are: Advertisements in the daily press, although nowadays only a small percentage of new jobs are published there. The local offices of the Manpower Employment Organisation (MEO), where you can be informed about job opportunities that are presented. Obtain the unemployment card from MEO to ensure your participation in programs: of vocational training, of employment for the unemployed through funding businesses, of granting young professionals. Guide of HR Helpdesk Services in the Fashion Sectors
Job search Consider the possibility of creating a professional email address that you use exclusively for job search. This will help to promote the professional image of yourself to employers. Moreover, this way it is not likely to confuse personal with professional e-mails, since every message you will receive at that address will be related to your job search. The Internet now plays a major role in the recruitment process, from publishing of jobs to finding suitable candidates. Many employers use Twitter and LinkedIn to publish jobs, for example, such as some national institutions-members of EURES. Spend time to create a profile on LinkedIn using the elements from your CV. In addition, a good idea is to use keywords which will be related to special skills and experience that you have, so that recruiters can find you, find your details and contact you in order to suggest a suitable job for you. Skills in Fashion Page. 13
Job search - Via the Organisation for the Development of Labour Force (Employment Service OAED) - Via online job search portals University Career Offices Career Office of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki http://dasta.auth.gr Career Office of the Democritus University of Thrace http://career.duth.gr/cms/ Career Office of the Agricultural University of Athens http://www.career.aua.gr/ Career Office of the Technical University of Crete http://www.career.tuc.gr/ Career Office of the Economic University of Athens http://www.career.aueb.gr/ Career Office of the Technological Education Institute of Crete http://www.career.teiher.gr/ Job search portals http://www.kariera.gr http://www.zhteitai.gr/ http://www.randstad.gr/ http://www.skywalker.gr/ http://www.careerplanner.gr/ http://gr.indeed.com/ http://www.apasxolisi.gr/ http://www.jobicious.com/ http://www.proson.gr/ - Abroad (mainly in Bulgaria) Through the HR Helpdesks of the Skills in Fashion project Guide of HR Helpdesk Services in the Fashion Sectors
Further information on the HR Helpdesks of the Skills in Fashion project For further information and targeted counseling support, you may contact or visit one of the following five HR Helpdesks for the fashion sectors established by the Skills in Fashion project: GREECE 1. Hellenic Fashion Industry Association, Ms. Vasiliki Kavatziki, tel: + 30 2310-257075, e-mail: info@greekfashion.gr 2. Association of Young Entrepreneurs and Scientists of Drama, Mr. Alkis Papadimitriou, tel: +30 25210-55160, e-mail: pap@dramanet.gr 3. Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Xanthi, Ms. Anthi Panayotou, tel: +30 25410-22553, e-mail: anthi@ebex.gr BULGARIA 1. Business Incubator - Gotse Delchev, Entrepreneurship Promotion Centre (BI-GD), Ms. Rositsa Kirilova Dzhambazova, τηλ: +359 75160404, e-mail: bi-gd@gocenet.net 2. Local Economic Development Agency Razlog (LEDA), Mr. Dimitar Andreev, tel: +359 74780011, e-mail: office@bcmesta.bg Skills in Fashion Page. 15
This project is co-funded by the European Union (ERDF) and National Funds of Greece and Bulgaria under the European Territorial Cooperation Programme. The views expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect the views of the European Commission. Partners The Skills in Fashion project is implemented by the following partner organisations: Hellenic Fashion Industry Association (SEPEE) Association of Young Entrepreneurs and Scientists of Drama (SNEED) Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Xanthi (EBEX) Vocational Training Center ENDYSI (KEK ENDYSI) Gnosi Anaptixiaki NGO (GNOSI) Business Incubator - Gotse Delchev, Entrepreneurship Promotion Centre (BI-GD) Local Economic Development Agency Razlog (LEDA) American University in Bulgaria (AUBG) For more information: Mr. Theofilos Aslanidis 18Α Ermou str., 54624, Thessaloniki, Greece Tel.: +30 2310 257075, Fax: +30 2310 257076 info@greekfashion.gr, www.skillsinfashion.eu