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Three questions for Minister for Employment Eva Nordmark about the Intensive Year. 

Why has the government introduced the Intensive Year?

We aim to improve integration by getting newly arrived people quicker into work. It is necessary to do everything possible to reduce unemployment, and getting jobs for newly arrived people is part of this. 

What does the government expect from the Intensive Year?

We have high expectations for the Intensive Year! The aim is to get jobs for participants within one year after they start their Intensive Year. This is good for integration and for competence maintenance. 

I want to highlight two issues that are particularly important to succeed. Firstly, the integration should be gender-equal. To achieve that, women and men must face the same high expectations, demands and get the same support. Secondly, we need many partners to execute the programme – trade unions, municipalities, employers and civil society. Together they can help with internships, mentor programmes and more, as well as language courses and introductions to the labour market. 

Can the initiative be made permanent?

The Intensive Year is meant to be permanent and it is an initiative that we believe will be very important in the work to improve integration in years to come.