Norway Prime Minister To Make The Country More Accessible For Migrant Workers

06 Jan 2014

Erna Solberg, the Prime Minister of Norway said that it is important to make it simpler for migrant workers with higher education to visit and work in Norway.

The Prime Minister told NTB that they need to make Norway a more feasible option for highly skilled professionals from other countries. Solberg added that she wants to establish a fast-track application processing system for specialists and experts specialists from outside the EEA and EU. Additionally, pre-approved companies will be provided with the right to bypass the system.

While Progress Party (FrP), Solberg’s coalition partner, wants to toughen-up the rules for labor immigration, the Prime Minister is insisting on her proposal.

Between the years 2004 and 2012, two-thirds of the growth in Norway’s employment is due to immigrants. However, unlike nations such as UK, Norway only attracts a small number of labor migrants with higher education.

Engineers come to Norway too, but for people with high education, it is probably not the most attractive country. Solberg says that language may be a natural obstacle to work in Norway, however, by making the procedure faster and easier, much can be improved.