The Danish government has proposed that migrants who have been on benefits for 3 years must work 37 hours a week to keep welfare payments because they say ‘there are too many, especially with non-Western backgrounds, who do not have a job’.
Immigration and integration has become a major issue for voters in Denmark, and the minority Social Democratic government – though traditionally a left wing grouping – has continued with immigration policies which are amongst some of the toughest in Europe.
The new proposal says that ‘if you come to Denmark, you have to work and support yourself and your family” and adds that “if one cannot support oneself, one must have a duty to participate and contribute what is equivalent to a regular working week to receive the full welfare benefit.’
The government says it promises training for those who speak some Danish, and that the proposal has become necessary because many women of foreign descent do not work, especially those with roots in the Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan, Pakistan and Turkey.
Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said the policy is only aimed at those in the country for more than three years and is necessary to help migrants integrate into Danish society. Although the ruling Social Democrats do not have a majority, they will likely get support from centre-right politicians to pass the proposal.
“We want to introduce a new work logic where people have a duty to contribute and be useful, and if they can’t find a regular job, they have to work for their allowance,” the Prime Minister told reporters.
“For too many years we have done a disservice to a lot of people by not demanding anything of them,” she added of the plan.
Frederiksen’s party is also setting targets for zero asylum claims saying the welfare system in Denmark is under strain.
However, the opposition has described the programme as unfair and foolish – and warned it might create downward pressure on wages.
Some 11% of Denmark’s population of almost 6 million people are immigrants and their descendants.