Muharrem Demirok (C) introduced the party’s new integration reform at a press conference during Almedal Week. In it, the Arbetsförmedlingen’s old voluntary “intensive year” for new arrivals is given a new name: “New start year” – and it is proposed to become mandatory for all foreign-born people who have been in Sweden for the last three years without employment.
The party leader calls the proposal a “warm reform” and emphasized just as before during SVT’s Morgonstudion the importance of work when it comes to integration.
Almedalen 2024
We who operate without being seen
Åkesson (SD): Shall conquer the school issue with discipline requirements
– It is not reasonable to believe that a strict integration policy alone will solve the fact that we have a huge exclusion in Sweden, says party leader Demirok at a press meeting in Almedalen.
New start year or lower contribution
According to the party’s proposal, those who do not choose to attend the freshman year should receive a lower grant. This will mainly apply to subsistence allowance, but exactly which other grants can be affected and by how much is still unclear.
However, lowering the child allowance is out of the question because it could contribute to higher child poverty, says press spokesperson Martin Ådahl to TT.
Should include studies and jobs
The freshman year must primarily consist of studies, SFI if necessary, and an internship. At the end of the year, an establishment job will be offered, an employment that is also subsidized by the state.
The Center Party expects that the new integration reform will cost SEK 2.5 billion annually if approximately 50,000 people participate in the new start year.
– All this comes with requirements, that you must also take part in this, that you must take the jobs that are offered, that you do everything in your power to become part of society, says Muharrem Demirok.