ManpowerGroup Marks World Refugee Day and Encourages Public Support for Refugees

UNHCR's "1" Concept Evolves to Highlight Life or Death Dilemmas Faced by Refugees Around the World

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Jun 20, 2012, 01:53 ET

MILWAUKEE, June 20, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- ManpowerGroup (NYSE: MAN), the world leader in innovative workforce solutions, is observing World Refugee Day today to recognize the courage, strength and determination of men, women and children who are forced to flee their homes under threat of persecution, conflict and violence, and to unleash the human potential of refugees.

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Evolving from last year's "1" Campaign launched by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), this year's "Dilemmas" campaign compels audiences to consider the same life or death decisions a refugee is forced to make in times of conflict. Refugee scenarios are presented to convey the dilemma they face. One campaign advertisement reads, "What would you do? Face death in a war zone? Or Escape but leave loved ones behind?"

"Few groups are as marginalized from the world of work as refugees, and on World Refugee Day it is imperative not only to raise awareness of their plight but acknowledge the human potential of refugees to earn a decent living, if only they are given the opportunity to succeed," said Jeffrey A. Joerres, ManpowerGroup Chairman and CEO. "ManpowerGroup's approach to assisting marginalized groups is to focus on their skills and find them sustainable work, which is at the core of our company."

ManpowerGroup is involved in programs around the world to foster self-reliance among refugees and help them find meaningful work. In South Africa, a partnership with Cape Town Refugee Centre (CTRC) and other national refugee service providers helps coordinate self-reliance efforts across South Africa. A task force consisting of these organizations is working to promote self-reliance and local integration advocacy. Directed at various government departments, the task force aims to recognize the rights that refugees are entitled to in South Africa, such as the right to work and banking services.

"Nobody chooses to be a refugee, and refugees are often forced into making the most difficult choices imaginable" said David Arkless, ManpowerGroup President of Corporate and Government Affairs and official advisor to the UNHCR. "Those of us who do have a choice, however, can help refugees to rebuild their lives. In ManpowerGroup's case, helping them develop the skills they need when they are resettled and ready to work."

ManpowerGroup urges people around the world to join Angelina Jolie, Special Envoy of the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees, to pledge support for refugees. Take the pledge at http://tinyurl.com/87e3x2c, because even one family torn apart by war is too many.

About ManpowerGroup

ManpowerGroup™ (NYSE: MAN), the world leader in innovative workforce solutions, creates and delivers high-impact solutions that enable our clients to achieve their business goals and enhance their competitiveness. With over 60 years of experience, our $22 billion company creates unique time to value through a comprehensive suite of innovative solutions that help clients win in the Human Age. These solutions cover an entire range of talent-driven needs from recruitment and assessment, training and development, and career management, to outsourcing and workforce consulting. ManpowerGroup maintains the world's largest and industry-leading network of nearly 3,800 offices in 80 countries and territories, generating a dynamic mix of an unmatched global footprint with valuable insight and local expertise to meet the needs of its 400,000 clients per year, across all industry sectors, small and medium-sized enterprises, local, multinational and global companies. By connecting our deep understanding of human potential to the ambitions of clients, ManpowerGroup helps the organizations and individuals we serve achieve more than they imagined - because their success leads to our success. And by creating these powerful connections, we create power that drives organizations forward, accelerates personal success and builds more sustainable communities. We help power the world of work. The ManpowerGroup suite of solutions is offered through ManpowerGroup™ Solutions, Manpower®, Experis™ and Right Management®. Learn more about how the ManpowerGroup can help you win in the Human Age at www.manpowergroup.com.

ManpowerGroup is the most trusted brand in the industry, and was once again the only company in our industry to be named to the Ethisphere Institute's 2012 World's Most Ethical Companies list for our proven commitment to ethical business practices, including an outstanding commitment to ethical leadership, compliance practices and corporate social responsibility.

In January 2011, at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos, Switzerland, ManpowerGroup announced the world has entered the Human Age, where talent has replaced capital as the key competitive differentiator. This concept of talentism as the new capitalism continues to resonate and was echoed as a core theme of the 2012 Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos. Learn more about this new age at www.manpowergroup.com/humanage

Gain access to ManpowerGroup's extensive thought leadership papers, annual Talent Shortage surveys and the Manpower Employment Outlook Survey, one of the most trusted indices of employment activity in the world, via the ManpowerGroup World of Work Insight iPad application. This thought leadership app explores the challenges faced by employers navigating the changing world of work and provides in-depth commentary, analysis, insight and advice on strategies for success.

Follow ManpowerGroup Chairman and CEO Jeff Joerres on Twitter: twitter.com/manpowergroupjj. Joerres is one of only six Fortune 500 CEOs who leverages a Twitter account to get his message out.

SOURCE ManpowerGroup