500 new citizens will have the opportunity to learn Norwegian and get quickly to work.
Now the government has started the trial with so-called integration reception.
A total of five reception in Bodø, Steinkjer, Kristiansand, Larvik and Oslo will participate in the trial.
Each integration receipt is to test out their own models for faster integration, the immigration and integration minister Sylvi Listhaug said when the scheme was presented Wednesday.
– Within the different models, there should be adopted incentives and sanctions that motivate residents to effort and to achieve results. Those who do not follow up, will be moved to an ordinary reception. We make clear demands on their own efforts, says Listhaug.
Criteria
Establishing specific integration reception was one of the most important measures in the integration message that the government presented in May this year. 5.4 million is earmarked for the project this year. Next year nearly 20 million is earmarked for elite centers, said Listhaug.
Three of the centers are municipal, one is run by a foundation, while one is privately run. The first will start up before the end of the year, while the rest will be ready next year.
Refugees who have been granted, or who are likely to get it, can apply to be transferred to “super centers”. The main criteria are motivation and extra effort, stress Listhaug.
– If you are not motivated, you must allow another to take your place, she says.
Unaccompanied minor asylum seekers are not currently participating in the scheme.
A-team and B-team
Today there lives more than 16,600 refugees and asylum seekers in ordinary receptions, according to weekly statistics from UDI. On the new elite centers, residents will have the opportunity to fill their days with language training, career counseling and job training.
Listhaug think there will be great interest in getting on an integration reception.
– My impression is that many asylum seekers are interested in getting started with a new life in Norway, she says to news agency NTB.
She is not worried that the scheme will help to create an A-team and a B team among the refugees.
– This will primarily create an opportunity for them to test the models for faster integrated in Norway says the integration minister, who envisions that for example, passing a language test will give a monetary reward.
Source: NTB scanpix / Norway Today
