NOAS: The weakest refugees will lose on the cutbacks

RefugeesRefugees.Photo: pixabay.com

It is the weakest among the refugees who will lose on the government’s proposed austerity in the welfare programs, believes Norwegian Organization for Asylum Seekers (NOAS).

The Government will remove special arrangements and the means test minimum benefits. In addition, the refugees will not anymore gain membership in the National Insurance Scheme from day one, something that gives retirement and other social benefits without a qualifying period.

Minister of Labour Anniken Hauglie (H) will submit the proposal for cutbacks later on Monday.
They will particularly affect the weakest among the refugees, says NOAS leader Ann-Magrit Austenå. She recalls that the accrual rule was introduced in recognition that many refugees are carrying injuries and deep trauma.

– We figured that to get these to work quickly is not possible. Nor is it certain that the most disadvantaged will manage to work fully ever, she points out.

– The cutbacks are very unreasonable for this group, she says.
Austenå believes Denmark and Norway now are following a Nordic competition of who has the strictest asylum policy.
– This is symbolic politics, she says.
Denmark recently halved the monthly financial support to refugee families to get the refugees to quickly find work.

 

Source: NTB scanpix / Norway Today