Agenda
In 2011, a newly elected left coalition government has announced about reforms in the field of integration and immigration policies:
“… more effective integration must contribute to getting more immigrants into employment at our institutions and in our companies. And we must make it easier for companies to attract foreign labour to Denmark and simplify regulations and administration in this area.”
History
Origin
Until the 1950s, Denmark was a country of net emigration, and unemployment was relatively high. This situation changed at the end of the 1950s, when Denmark was characterized by high labour demand, which triggered labour immigration – mainly from Turkey and Yugoslavia. From that time until the first oil shock, Denmark had a steady inflow of labour immigrants. Only at the end of the 1960s was there notable net immigration.
Development
Denmark introduced a ban on labour-market oriented immigration for non-EEA nationals in 1973. Despite the stop on labour immigration from third countries, immigration continued at a steady but low level throughout the 1970s, mainly through the channel of family reunification. As a result, the immigrant stock remained low in comparison to other European OECD countries, with immigrants accounting for less than 3% of the total population until the mid-1980s.
In 1983, Denmark comprehensively reformed its immigration framework in ways which improved the legal situation of immigrants. Inter alia, a legal right to family reunification was introduced that covered not only spouses and children, but also parents if these were above the age of 60 – although the principal applicant generally had to assure parents’ financial support.
Since 2001 a new immigration pattern has emerged as the number of immigrants coming to Denmark to work or study has increased significantly (including immigrants from EU/EEA countries), whereas the number of refugees and family reunifications has been reduced to almost a third of the count in 2001
Recent Status
Recently, substantial numbers of workers, probably between 5,000 and 10,000, from the new EU accession countries, especially Poland and the Baltic nations, have arrived to perform menial labour in construction, agriculture, consumer industries, and cleaning, mostly working long hours at lower wages than normal for unionized Danish labour.
Institutional Structure
Ministry of Integration
The principal actor with respect to migration and integration policy in Denmark at the national level is the Ministry of Integration. This ministry was created in 2001 as one of the first of its kind in Europe and has a broad range of responsibilities:
- work and residence permits
- naturalization
- Danish language for immigrants
- improvement of living conditions and social integration of immigrants
- removal of barriers to the employment of immigrants and refugees
Municipalities and Job Centres transfer and implement the above mentioned policies on a local level.
Other actors related to migration policies:
• Ministry of Employment
• Education Ministry
• Social partners
• Non-governmental organizations
• Danish Refugee Council
• Danish Institute for Human Rights
• Integration Councils
• Board of Equal Treatment
Institutional Split-Up
After ten years of centre-right coalitions, a new left coalition government came out from September 2011 elections. The new government abolished the Ministry of Integration and divided its portfolio between the Social Affairs Ministry – renamed as Ministry of Social Affairs and Integration – and the Ministry of Justice.
The creation of the new Ministry of Social Affairs and Integration brings a different approach to integration, one which allows for differentiations among immigrants and their needs according to their social context.
Legislation
Aliens (Consolidation) Act (Udlændingeloven):
addresses legal status to foreigners in Denmark concerning for example entry and residence permits (temporary and permanent).
Consolidation of the Act on Integration of Aliens in Denmark (Integrationsloven):
took effect on 1 January 1999, gave the municipalities in Denmark responsibility for integration. The housing allocation policy for newly arrived refugees has, therefore, become a key instrument for ensuring that this responsibility is distributed in an appropriate manner among the nation’s municipalities.
Budget
Immigrants and descendents from ’less developed countries’ cost the Danish state respectively 4,0 billion DKK and 11,7 billion DKK in 2010. However, it should be noted that the group of descendents is relatively young and so will both involve fewer costs and contribute more later in their lives. Thus, it is estimated that this group will net contribute 4,2 billion DKK in 2050.
Key Figures
Immigrants and descendents from non-western countries have significantly lower degrees of employment than native Danes. However, from the mid 90s the degree of employment of non-western immigrants and descendents has increased quite dramatically.
In 2010 net migration to Denmark was 22 400 persons. By 1 January 2011 immigrants represented around 10% of the Danish population of 5.6 million.
By 2010, immigrants and their offspring made up more than 10 percent of the country's 5.5 million inhabitants.
Denmark has the highest number of Muslim free schools in Europe, relative to country size.
In the recent MIPEX (Migrant Integration Policy Index) III, Denmark is ranked just above the EU average regarding the implementation of policies that are conducive to integration.
Challenges
Integration Policies of Immigrants
The notion of assimilation is present in the Danish welfare system, which relies on homogeneity and equality, and thus tend to represent both a cultural and economic obstacle to the integration of immigrants. Restrictions within policies on immigration and integration since 2000 also emphasise assimilation.
Discrimination of Ethnic Minorities
Discriminatory practices take place every day, as evidenced by many academic surveys, reports from distinguished organisations and NGOs, which have documented the unequal treatment given to minorities. However, the ENAR (European Network Against Racism) report states, the single most discriminated area is the labour market - employment opportunities, apprenticeships and the negative views of employers.
Immigration as a Key Issue in Politics
The Danish People’s Party (DPP), whose share of the popular vote grew from 7 percent in 1998 to nearly 14 percent in 2007, used strong nationalistic rhetoric during campaigns. The DPP introduced a distinctively anti-multicultural discourse into Danish politics with warnings that “Denmark is a paradise for fanatics who, with human rights in hand, will turn Denmark into a multi-ethnic society.”
Transition to Globalisation
Many of the immigrants come from countries where men and women are segregated and criticising the prophet Muhammad is a serious offence. Denmark found itself on the front-line of the culture wars when Jyllands-Posten, a newspaper, published cartoons making fun of Muhammad.
Globalisation > Demography > Migration
Transition to Political Tools
The Integration Ministry’s report came to the conclusion that by tightening immigration laws, Denmark has saved €6.7 billion over the last 10 years, money which otherwise would supposedly have been spent on social benefits or housing.
Political Tools > National > Denmark > Ext.Policies > Migration
Transition to Political Actors
Trade unions are frustrated over businesses' rapidly increasing use of temporary staff from low-cost countries, so the EU directive on temporary agency work is being welcomed as a protection against social dumping. The directive on temporary agency work enables to enter into collective agreements which are even more beneficial to the worker.
"80 percent of all temporary jobs solve tasks which would have been solved by outsourcing, overtime or not solved at all, so it is a myth that temporary workers steal other people's jobs,"
Jakob Tietge (Danish Chamber of Commerce)
Political Actors > Civil Society > Trade Unions > National > Denmarks
