What is the role of activation programmes for the unemployed in a society trying to return within the planetary boundaries? Welcome to the Home of Wisdom Coffee Conversations to learn more and discuss!
Circulating Used Materials in the Revolving Doors of Activation
Affluent Western countries have largely transgressed planetary boundaries. The urgent and manifold issue of environmental degradation—both locally and globally—demands cross-sectoral action, including in social and labour policies. At the same time, mass unemployment remains a persistent social challenge in the Global North, contributing to a wide range of societal problems. In response, active labour market policies aim to improve the employability of the unemployed workforce.
In Finland, these policies are implemented through a system of activation, which includes both rights and obligations for long-term unemployed individuals to participate in mandatory activation programmes. The most basic level of activation is Rehabilitative Work Activities (RWA), a social rehabilitation service designed for individuals with severe health issues and reduced functional capacity.
A common form of RWA involves workshops that work with used, tangible materials—engaging in recycling, upcycling, and refurbishing. From the perspective of labour market policy, RWA is devalued for its limited effectiveness, as it tends to revolve participants through various activation measures without leading them to the open labour market.
However, could RWA hold any potential in the context of an affluent society striving to return to planetary boundaries? This question will be explored in the upcoming presentation, which draws on the findings of a recently published doctoral dissertation.
About the presenter
Ossi Laaksamo is defending his social work dissertation on the 4th of October. The title of the doctoral thesis is: “On the Trail of Waste and Activation: Ethnographic Research on Rehabilitative Work Activities as Part of the Ecosocial Transition.” He is also a certified social worker and has gained his inspiration for an interdisciplinary research perspective by viewing the sustainability or unsustainability of social policies and their implementation in (adult) social work practice. Ossi’s main hobby is starting new hobbies; currently, he is into listing observations of different species in the laji.fi database.
Join the event on-site or online
We encourage you to take a moment away from your desk and participate on-site at the Home of Wisdom within the C-building, where coffee and tea will be served and the discussion may continue after the event ends. However, remote participation is also possible. You are warmly welcome to join the event either way!
To join online, use the link below. In addition, use your own name as you join to be let in from the waiting room.
