Manpower Inc. Draws Attention to Plight of Uprooted People as World Refugee Day is Marked Around the Globe

MILWAUKEE, June 18 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Manpower Inc. (NYSE: MAN) is a corporate partner of World Refugee Day on Sunday, 20 June, which is organized by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). This year, the theme is "Home," in recognition of the plight of more than 40 million uprooted people around the world.

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"Voluntary repatriations for refugees are at their lowest level in 20 years as conflicts around the world have grown more resilient," said David Arkless, Manpower Inc. President of Corporate and Government Affairs. "Most of the time, refugees would like to return to their homelands, but where that is not possible there needs to be strategies in place to align refugees with the labor market needs in their new hometowns so they can integrate successfully instead of being socially excluded."

The slogan to accompany the theme is, "They Took My Home, But They Can't Take My Future," which was chosen to highlight the need to ensure that refugees who cannot return to their home countries are given access to skills and education so that their lives and dignity are not put on hold while solutions are sought.

Manpower has engaged in several partnerships with the UNHCR and was one of the founding partners in the ninemillion.org campaign, which is focused on providing education to the nine million children who are living long term in refugee camps around the world without access to adequate schooling to provide them with the skills they will need when they are eventually repatriated.

In Thailand, Manpower is working with Myanmar refugees to equip them with the skills they need to find work in the United States and build productive new lives. Refugees will link up with Manpower offices in their new homeland for continuing counseling and advice on how to find and retain a job.

"We need to provide more support for education and other essential life skills so even if refugees have lost their homes, they haven't lost their futures," added Arkless. "With voluntary repatriation opportunities currently limited, the importance of refugees being able to integrate locally and resettle to third countries is commensurately greater."

Arkless spoke today at a special awareness day that took place in the Principality of Monaco, in the presence of H.R.H. the Princess of Hannover, on the indispensable alliance of public/private partnerships in order to meet the needs of displaced peoples by providing the expertise that the private sector has to offer.

"We recognize that people do not choose to be refugees and that there is potential to be unleashed in everyone," said Arkless. "That's why Manpower is dedicated to unleashing the potential of refugees, who are intelligent and motivated, and willing and eager to rebuild their lives if they are given the opportunity."

About the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)

The UNHCR was established on December 14, 1950 by the United Nations General Assembly. The agency is mandated to lead and coordinate international action to protect refugees and resolve refugee problems worldwide. Its primary purpose is to safeguard the rights and well-being of refugees. It strives to ensure that everyone can exercise the right to seek asylum and find safe refuge in another State, with the option to return home voluntarily, integrate locally or to resettle in a third country. It also has a mandate to help stateless people. In more than five decades, the agency has helped people restart their lives. It is twice the winner of the Nobel Peace Prize, in 1954 and 1981. Today, a staff of some 6,600 people in more than 110 countries continues to help about 34 million persons. http://www.unhcr.org

About Manpower Inc.

Manpower Inc. (NYSE: MAN) is a world leader in innovative workforce solutions; creating and delivering services that enable its clients to win in the changing world of work. With over 60 years' experience, Manpower offers employers a range of services and solutions for the entire employment and business cycle including permanent, temporary and contract recruitment; employee assessment and selection; training; outplacement; outsourcing and consulting. Manpower's worldwide network of nearly 4,000 offices in 82 countries and territories is the world's largest in the industry and enables the company to meet the needs of its 400,000 clients per year, including small and medium size enterprises in all industry sectors, as well as the world's largest multinational corporations. The focus of Manpower's work is on raising productivity through improved quality, efficiency and cost-reduction across their total workforce, enabling clients to concentrate on their core business activities. Manpower Inc. operates under five brands: Manpower, Manpower Professional, Elan, Jefferson Wells and Right Management. More information about Manpower Inc. is available at www.manpower.com.

SOURCE Manpower Inc.