F A C T S H E E T Ministry of Integration and Gender Equality Swedish integration policy December 2009 The goal of integration policy in Sweden is equal rights, are responsible for schooling and for housing planning, obligations and opportunities for all, regardless of ethnic for example. The main responsibility for health and or cultural background. medical services is with the county councils at regional The policy goals are to be achieved mainly through level. The county administrative boards represent central general measures for the whole population, regardless government in the regions. They contribute by coordina- of country of birth or ethnic background. The general ting the work of central government agencies, municipa- measures are supplemented by targeted support for the lities and county councils in the area of integration. introduction of newly arrived immigrants in their first years in Sweden. Current integration issues in Sweden In September 2008 the Government decided on an Reform for faster introduction of new arrivals overall strategy for integration for the years until 2010. In Sweden the state has particular responsibility for The strategy identifies seven areas that are especially supporting the introduction of newly arrived refu- important to work on to achieve the goal. These are: gees and others in need of protection, as well as their • Faster introduction for new arrivals families. The Government presented a Bill in autumn • More in work, more entrepreneurs 2009 proposing reforms in this field. The Government • Better results and greater equality in school wishes to use this reform to speed up introduction to • Better language skills and more adult education working and social life. The incentives for both activity opportunities and work will increase, the division of responsibility • Effective anti-discrimination measures between agencies will be clarified and the skills of the • Development of urban districts with extensive social new arrivals will be utilised better than before. The exclusion proposal means that: • Common basic values in a society characterised by • The state, via the Swedish Public Employment increasing diversity Service, will have a coordinating responsibility for An overall focus of the strategy is to increase the introduction measures. The main responsibility lay supply and demand of labour, and to create quality and previously with the municipalities. equality in schools. • The Swedish Public Employment Service is required to produce a personal introduction plan together Actors in Swedish integration policy with the new arrival. This plan is based on the individual’s previous education and work experience In Sweden each minister, each ministry and each and should always contain courses in the Swedish government agency is responsible for integration issues language, civic orientation and employment prepara- within its respective area. For example, the Ministry tion activities. of Employment has the main responsibility for issues • An introduction benefit that are equal for everyone concerning integration in the labour market, and the regardless of where one lives will be introduced. Swedish Public Employment Service is to support all This introduction benefit is paid to newly arrived unemployed people regardless of background. The immigrants who actively participate in introduction Ministry of Integration and Gender Equality, under the measures. The benefit is designed so that it pays the leadership of Minister Nyamko Sabuni, coordinates the recipient to work alongside his or her introduction Government’s integration work. The ministry has its activities. own responsibility for issues concerning such things as: • A new actor – an introduction guide – is to help the • the introduction of new arrivals to Sweden new arrival find a job. This guide is an independent • Swedish citizenship actor, working on the instructions of the Swedish • combating discrimination and racism Public Employment Service. New arrivals will be • the promotion of democracy and human rights able to choose their guides themselves. • the development of urban districts with extensive • New arrivals who have an introduction plan are to social exclusion take part in civic orientation. • follow-up and evaluation in the area of integration These reforms will be regulated in special introduction The municipalities have great responsibility for many legislation. Subject to the Riksdag decision, the reform issues that are important for integration. Municipalities will enter into force on 1 December 2010. Other initiatives for new arrivals family. This work is undertaken by the Swedish Migration Board, together with the county administrative boards and Step-in jobs the Swedish Association of Local Authorities and Regions, Step-in jobs are specially subsidised employment aimed which is an umbrella organisation for local authorities in at faster entry into the labour market and better langu- this country. age learning. Step-in jobs can be offered to unemployed newly arrived immigrants and are to be combined with Dialogue with values-based organisations courses in the Swedish language. The subsidy amounts to on integration 75 per cent of employer wage costs. The Government has initiated a dialogue with this sector to enable it to contribute to integration, and particularly Introduction dialogue the introduction of new arrivals. The purpose of this The introduction dialogue means that as soon as a dialogue is to clarify the relationship between the state, residence permit has been granted, new arrivals receive municipalities and the non-profit sector in efforts to information on where in Sweden there is a demand for ensure the introduction and integration of new arrivals. the skills that they have or think they could acquire. The The dialogue is also to help develop forms and methods dialogue aims at better matching between the skills of for the activities of values-based organisations. the individual, the needs of the labour market and the supply of courses. The dialogue is to result in a plan for employment, place of residence and housing, courses, Efforts to promote employment and other initiatives. and enterprise Introduction dialogues were introduced as a pilot project in parts of the country in 2009. In 2010, these General measures to promote employment activities will extended to the whole country. More jobs and good conditions for enterprise contribute to better integration. The Government in Sweden has redu- Better surveys ced tax on earned income in several stages to make it more The Swedish Migration Board surveys the education and worthwhile to employ and to work. Employers’ contribu- work experience of asylum seekers. The aim is to ena- tions have also been reduced. Enterprise policy is aimed at ble the Swedish Public Employment Service to provide creating good conditions for growth. adequate support soon after a residence permit has been Measures to promote more jobs are supplemented by granted. This survey may also improve opportunities for measures to support the return of unemployed people employment even during the period in which an asylum to the labour market. New start jobs are subsidised em- case is being considered. The Swedish Migration Board ployment introduced for individuals and groups who are and the Swedish Public Employment Service have been particularly detached from the labour market. The job and tasked with improving this survey in 2010. Methods and development guarantee means that jobseekers must be of- method support are to be produced. fered individually adapted activities to find a job as soon as possible. The job guarantee for young people entails special Mentoring schemes measures at an early stage for unemployed youth. The mea- The lack of a network is one of the factors hampering sures are aimed at getting the participants into employment the introduction of newly arrived immigrants in Sweden. or into the normal education system as fast as possible. Mentorship is a proven method for creating networks and skills development. The Government therefore in- Support to established entrepreneurs tends to initiate a three-year mentorship project, where from non-Swedish backgrounds new arrivals are matched with mentors on the basis of Entrepreneurs from non-Swedish backgrounds often find their occupation and education. The project will be im- it more difficult than others to arrange financing for com- plemented during the period 2010–2012. SEK 5 million pany growth. The Government has therefore allocated a year has been allocated to these activities. SEK 20 million per year in 2008–2010 for qualified advi- sory services and opportunities to participate in mentoring Organised resettlement schemes and networks. As part of this initiative, the Swe- Many new arrivals choose to settle in a small number dish Agency for Economic and Regional Growth will also of municipalities in the metropolitan counties. At the carry on a dialogue with employees in the banking sector same time, there are other municipalities where there concerning opportunities for immigrant entrepreneurs to are good conditions for employment and education. The receive financing. Funds will also be allocated to compile Government has therefore initiated efforts to make it up-to-date knowledge of companies run by women and easier and to support re-settlement from municipalities men from non-Swedish backgrounds. receiving many immigrants to municipalities receiving fewer immigrants and where there is access to a good labour