VIII Employment Congress 2025
The Basque Employment Congress has become a landmark occasion for discussing employment policy, pooling good practices and comparing public strategies.
The Basque Employment Strategy 2030, updated according to the employment act, Law 15/2023, states that, "The Basque Country can only progress in competitiveness if it takes advantage of all the talent available, fostering diversity and equality as drivers of economic and social development."
Therefore, at this year's 8th Basque Employment Congress, to be held on 29th October in Donostia/San Sebastián, we will approach diversity at work from a global point of view: functional, gender, inter-generational and cultural, considering the opportunities and difficulties involved in incorporating diversity in organisations.
The commitment of the Basque government department of economy, work and employment to quality employment is reflected in the Social Pact for Employment, where we share this goal with more than 100 economic, social, institutional and third sector agents, and in the Basque Employment Strategy 2030, which states that "Quality employment begins with effective equality of opportunities in terms of both access and development. This equality must be understood in a broad sense, encompassing not only gender equality, but also generational equality, functional diversity, affective/sexual diversity and cultural diversity, to ensure that all people can fully integrate into the labour market and contribute to its competitiveness."
Through the lectures, round table discussions and pooling of experiences that will take place during the congress, we will try to reflect on issues related to the contribution that diversity can make to companies' competitiveness and to the construction of a cohesive society, we will analyse what public policies we need to implement to attract diverse talent and we will learn about experiences under way in different organisations.
The congress, to take place over the morning and afternoon, is aimed at experts, politicians and academics from the public, private and third sectors as well as social stakeholders, and combines academic, public policy and professional viewpoints.
I hope the content we propose will be of interest to you and that we will see you on 29th October in Donostia/San Sebastián.
Mikel Torres Lorenzo
Second Deputy First Minister and Minister of Economy, Labour and Employment
29/10/2025: "Diverse employment in a prosperous, cohesive society"
Host: Eva Domaika.
9.00 - 9.30am: Institutional event.
- Ane Oyarbide. Second deputy mayor and councillor for Equality, Economics and Local Employment at San Sebastián city council.
- Eider Mendoza. Head of the Gipuzkoa provincial authority.
- Inga Balnanosien. Vice-President of the European Public Employment Service Network.
- Mikel Torres Lorenzo. Second Deputy First Minister of the Basque Government and Regional Minister of Economy, Labour and Employment.
9.30 - 10.30am: Opening address. The benefits of diversity for competitiveness.
- Marte Cecilie Wilhelmsen Solheim. University of Stavanger. Norway.
9.30 - 10.30am: Coffee.
11.00 - 11.30am: Talk on functional diversity: "Focusing is an activity".
- Patty Bonet Viana. Actress and journalist.
11.30 - 12.15am: Round Table. Technological developments and inclusive work environments.
- Moderator: Fernando Fantova Azcoaga. Head of Besaldi, the body assessing employment and inclusion policies.
- Virginia Carcedo Illera. General Secretary and Director of Change, Excellence and Equality at the ONCE foundation, as well as Executive Vice-President of the Inserta associations.
- Cristina Martín Andonegui. Senior Researcher in the Digital Health and Biomedical Technology Department at Vicomtech.
12.15 - 12.45am: Talk on gender diversity.
- Lidia Farré Olalla. Senior scientist at IAE-CSIC, the Institute of Economic Analysis of the Spanish scientific research council, affiliate lecturer at the Barcelona School of Economics and director of the master’s degree programme in Economics of Public Policy (BSE).
12.45 - 1.30pm: Round Table. How to break with stereotypes of masculinisation and feminisation of jobs.
- Moderator: Mari Jose Aranguren. Vice-Rector of the San Sebastian campus and Institutional Relations at the University of Deusto and professor of Economics at the Deusto Business School.
- Marta Epelde Merino. Director of the Basque Construction Cluster.
- Karmele Acedo Gil. CEO of SSI Group, Integrated Social Services.
- Begoña San Miguel Alzola. President of FVEM, the Bizkaia Federation of Metal Companies.
1.30 - 2.30pm: Lunch.
2.30 - 3.00pm: Cultural diversity talk.
- Francesco Fasani. University of Milan.
3.00 - 3.45pm: Round Table. Mechanisms to foster the inclusion of immigrants in the labour market.
- Moderator: Fernando Consuegra Revuelta. General Coordinator of Sartu Taldea.
- Belén Vallina González. President of Yaran Foundation.
- Sara Buesa Rodríguez. Director of Inclusion of the Basque Government.
3.45 - 5.00pm: Dialogue on generational diversity.
- Laura Rosillo Cascante. Founder of the Observatory of Learning in Maturescence
- Pablo González Ruiz de la Torre. CEO of Trivu.
- Moderator: Sara de la Rica Goiricelaya. Director of ISEAK Foundation and Professor of Economics at the University of the Basque Country.
5.00 - 6.00pm: General debate and conclusions.
- Moderator: Eva Domaika Ansola.
- Pilar Cancela Rodríguez. Secretary of State for Migration.
- Iratxe Uriarte Eiguren. Basque Youth Council.
- Gerardo Gutiérrez Ardoy. SEPE Director General.
- Francisco Pedraza Moreno. General Director of Lanbide - Basque Employment Service.
- Elena Pérez Barredo. Basque Deputy Minister for Work and Employment.
6.00am: Close.
- Alfonso Gurpegui Ruiz. Vice-minister of Employment and Inclusion.
Marte Cecilie Wilhelmsen Solheim
Professor of innovation studies and currently serving as the Pro-rector for Innovation & Society at the University of Stavanger.
Patty Bonet Viana
Actress and journalist.
Fernando Fantova Azcoaga
Head of Besaldi, the body assessing employment and inclusion policy in the Basque Country.
Virginia Carcedo Illera
General Secretary and Director of Change, Excellence and Equality at the ONCE foundation, as well as Executive Vice-President of the Inserta associations.
Cristina Martín Andonegui
Senior Researcher in the Digital Health and Biomedical Technology Department at Vicomtech.
Lidia Farré Olalla
Tenured Scientist, Economic Analysis Institute (IAE-CSIC). BSE Affiliated Professor.
Mari José Aranguren Querejeta
Vice-rector of the San Sebastián campus and Institutional Relations at the University of Deusto and professor of Economics at the Deusto Business School (University of Deusto).
Marta Epelde Merino
Director of the Basque Construction Cluster.
Karmele Acedo Gil
CEO of SSI Group, Integrated Social Services.
Begoña San Miguel Alzola
President of FVEM, the Bizkaia Federation of Metal Companies.
Francesco Fasani
Full Professor in Economics at the Department of Economics, Management and Quantitative Methods of the University of Milan “Statale”.
Fernando Consuegra Revuelta
General coordinator of Sartu Taldea.
Belén Vallina González
President of Yaran Foundation.
Sara Buesa Rodríguez
Director of Inclusion of the Basque Government.
Sara de la Rica Goiricelaya
Director of ISEAK Foundation and Professor of Economics at the University of the Basque Country.
Laura Rosillo Cascante
Founder of the Observatory of Learning in Maturescence.
Pablo González Ruiz de la Torre
CEO of Trivu.
Eva Domaika Ansola
Head of news at SER Vitoria.
Pilar Cancela Rodríguez
Secretary of State for Migration.
Iratxe Uriarte Eiguren
Basque Youth Council.
Gerardo Gutiérrez Ardoy
SEPE Director General.
Francisco Pedraza Moreno
Director General of Lanbide, the Basque public employment service.
Elena Pérez Barredo
Basque Deputy Minister for Work and Employment.
Alfonso Gurpegui Ruiz
Deputy minister of Employment and Inclusion in the Basque government Department of Economics, Work and Employment.
Joseba Zalakain Hernández
Director of the SIIS Documentation and Study Centre.
Fernando Consuegra Revuelta
Lecturer at the University of Deusto and General Coordinator of Sartu Taldea.
María Saiz Santos
Executeve Director of GEM Euskadi and President of the Basque Entrepeneurship Observatory.
Iñigo Calvo Sotomayor
Lecturer and researcher at the University of Deusto- Deusto Business School.
José Javier Ramos Salazar
Advisor to the Department of Labour and Employment for the restructuring of Lanbide.
Fernando Fantova Azcoaga
Head of Besaldi, the body assessing employment and inclusion policy in the Basque Country.
Mª José Aranguren Querejeta
Director General of Orkestra-Basque Institute of Competitiveness and Professor of Economics at the University of Deusto.
Iñigo Arteche Hernández
Cheif Executive Officier of Ikertalde.
Sara de la Rica Goiricelaya
Professor of Economics at the University of the Basque Country and Director of the ISEAK Foundation.
Francisco Pedraza Moreno
General Director of Lanbide.
Arantza López González
Advisor to the Departament of Labour and Employment.
Enrique Ramos Vispo
Director of Employment and Inclusion.
Alfonso Gurpegui Ruiz
Vice-minister of Employment and Inclusion.
The 8th Employment Congress, organised by the Basque government work and employment department, is to be held on 29th October at the Kursaal conference centre in Donostia / San Sebastián.
The Kursaal, a landmark building designed by architect Rafael Moneo that stands out for its distinctiveness and its integration into its surroundings, is to be the venue for the congress.
Standing an excellent location overlooking the Bay of Biscay, the Kursaal is directly connected to the heart of the city. Just a stone's throw away are places like the Old Town and famed La Concha Bay, making for a fully-rounded experience, both professionally and culturally, during your stay.
HOW TO GET HERE:
On foot: Google Maps
The best way to get to the Kursaal from the centre of San Sebastián is on foot. You can enjoy a pleasant walk taking about 13 minutes, along the coast and taking in different landmarks in the city, including the Plaza de Cervantes, the Alderdi Eder park and the Victoria Eugenia theatre.
By bicycle: The city has a cycle rental system and a network of cycle lanes to help get about sustainably. There are pick-up stations near the conference centre, ideal for those who prefer to pedal.
Bus: Website
San Sebastián has an efficient city bus network. Lines 13, 14, 29, 31 and 37 stop close to the Kursaal, specifically on Av. de la Zurriola, just a few minutes' walk from the entrance.
Euskotren: Website
If you're coming from outside the city or from neighbouring towns, you can use Euskotren. The service connects several localities to San Sebastián.
Car: Car parks in Donostia/San Sebastián Website
You are recommended to consult nearby car parks and, if possible, opt for public transport or bicycle to avoid complications.
Accessibility: Accessibility guide to the city
The Kursaal is accessible for people with disabilities. It has disabled parking spaces, accessible entrances, lift, disabled toilets, high-relief Braille signage and so on.
You can register for the VIII Employment Congress 2025 by clicking on the following button:
