Grens-WINT: practical tools for labour migrant integration and retention

Labour migration does not stop at borders. Grens-WINT develops a practical toolbox to help employers, local authorities and support organisations better integrate and retain medium-skilled labour migrants in the Flemish-Dutch border region.

In short

Grens-WINT explores how organisations in the Flemish-Dutch border region can better support medium-skilled labour migrants in employment, integration and long-term retention. The project develops a practical and accessible toolbox for employers, local authorities, international houses and labour migrant support services.

The research focuses on themes such as:

onboarding and integration
language and cultural support
family support
labour market retention
cross-border cooperation between organisations

The toolbox combines existing good practices with newly developed tools, including guidelines, workshops, communication materials and digital support solutions. The project pays particular attention to small and medium-sized enterprises, which often lack the resources to support labour migrants sustainably.

Need and relevance

The Flemish-Dutch border region faces significant labour shortages, especially in medium-skilled technical and practical professions. At the same time, many labour migrants experience barriers related to housing, administration, social integration and family support. As a result, many leave the region again after only a few years.

Existing support systems are often fragmented and mainly targeted at highly skilled profiles or larger organisations. Medium-skilled labour migrants and smaller employers therefore receive insufficient support. Grens-WINT addresses this gap by sharing knowledge, expertise and practical tools across borders and sectors.

The research contributes to:

a more inclusive labour market
stronger regional cooperation
sustainable employment for labour migrants
improved talent retention in shortage occupations
stronger social integration within local communities

From approach to impact

The research team collaborates with knowledge institutions, employer organisations, local authorities, international houses and sector partners from Belgium and the Netherlands. Through co-creation sessions, pilot projects, workshops and practice-based testing, the consortium develops and validates the toolbox together with end users.

The approach includes:

analysing existing support systems and needs
co-creation with employers and labour migrants
developing practical and digital tools
testing pilot trajectories across sectors and regions
sharing knowledge through workshops and communication activities

Grens-WINT contributes to a more sustainable and inclusive labour market in the border region. The project strengthens support for labour migrants while also improving cooperation between organisations, cities and sectors. In doing so, the research advances knowledge on labour migration, integration and regional labour market innovation.