* basic Norwegian language skills
* basic insight into Norwegian society
* preparation to participate in the Norwegian labor market
The law is for newly-arrived immigrants between 18 and 55 years who need to gain basic qualifications.
In order to participate in the program the immigrant must have granted asylum, arrived in the country as a resettlement refugee, or have been granted a residence permit for reasons of protection. People who have been granted family reunification with a refugee can sometimes be offered an introductory program. The municipality can choose to offer the introductory program to all immigrants.
The introductory program normally lasts two years. It is possible to apply for an extended program (of up to three years). It is a full time program. Participants get five weeks holiday a year. The participants have a contact person (program consultant) . The program consultant’s job is to advice and guide throughout the introductory program.
The contents of the introductory program can include everything that qualifies you toward self dependency, most often Norwegian language training, work experience placement in various workplaces and other activities.
Program participants are paid for taking part in the program. This money is called introductory support. The introductory support is the same throughout the country. In 2009 it is 144.000,- Nok pr year. The introductory support is taxable.
In order to succeed with this program we are dependent upon cooperation with many institutions in the municipality. If the refugee office resettles a refugee from the reception-center in Kongsberg or from a reception-center near by, we arrange a meeting to inform what Kongsberg can offer in terms of education and work opportunities. We inform what is expected of the refugee, and finally answer questions and generally talk about our city.
The refugee office has a very close cooperation with Fredheim (Bente and Knut), where we aim to find the best possible plan for the participants program. As Kongsberg believes that having meaningful activities also outside of school or work is important, we work closely to the cultural department (Cherif) to find interesting sports, clubs etc for our participants.
The results from our work tells us that we have succeeded. Near 80% of our participants are in ordinary jobs or schools within 2 years. Only 6% have completed the program unsuccessfully.
Ingrid Berge
3 comentarios:
Thank your for your complet information about the process with refugees.
Really, I think its an example about how all countries would work with them. We must try to spread all that information, because it may be really important that can be known outside of Norway.
I hope that, our project, can contribute for a best knowledge of the important job that many professionals and volunteers are doing with people who really need their help.
Go on in this way and thank you again.
I just want to add that 144.000 NOK is about 16.150 euro a year. This is subsential amount due to the cost of life i Norway, but the participant signs a contract (like job contract)that engages and obliges him to work for his own intagration. If he miss a class, he will be deducted from his "salary". He doen't get shool holydays (2 mouths) but 5 weeks a year like every other worker i Norway.
What is really motivating about our Introductory Act is that it gives every participant in that program a basic amount of money which makes him/her able to have a home, clothes and food. The participant has to "work" at our school, Fredheim, "his/her fulltime job".
If he/she manages to get a job apart from this, he/she will have this wages on top of the money provided by the Introductory Act.
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