Norway Introduces New Measures Aimed at Employing More Refugees

Norway will introduce significant changes to the Integration Act to integrate refugees into the workforce quickly.

The proposed updates focus on increasing job orientation, expanding eligibility for the initial programme, and extending the duration of formal training, Schengen News reports.

In a recent statement, the Norwegian government announced updates to the induction programme, which will now feature increased work-oriented components. 

Participants will be required to complete at least 15 hours of work-related activities per week after three months for those in shorter programmes to enhance their job market readiness.

The updated rules will also expand the programme to include individuals aged 55 to 60, providing more opportunities for older refugees to integrate and gain employment qualifications
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Moreover, the government plans to extend the programme for formal education students by a year. 

This extension is intended to support refugees in completing upper secondary education and vocational training, thereby improving their long-term employment prospects.

According to the government, such revisions come in response to successful integration experiences with refugees from Ukraine, underscoring the importance of simple and effective integration processes.

Earlier this winter, the government introduced several measures to reduce arrivals and maintain control, but the number of arrivals in Norway remains high.

The country has resettled more than 75,000 refugees in the past three years, with more than 27 per cent of working-age Ukrainians already employed.

In response to the large influx of refugees, the government implemented several initiatives, which have been evaluated for effectiveness. 

Since the beginning of the year, employment among working-age Ukrainians has increased by 11 percentage points.

The Minister for Employment and Inclusion, Tonje Brenna, added that one goal of the legislative adjustments is to replicate the successful integration strategies used for Ukrainians with other refugee groups.

He further emphasised that the country must have a flexible and straightforward regulatory framework to support these goals.

Source: https://schengen.news/norway-introduces-new-measures-aimed-at-employing-more-refugees/