legal and social conditions for asylum seekers and refugees in ...

SOCIAL CONDITIONS FOR REFUGEES
Introduction/legal basis
The Danish integration system was greatly reformed by Act on Integration of Aliens in Denmark
No. 474 of 1 July 1998, which entered into force on 1 January 1999 (the Integration Act). The new
law lays down the main conditions regarding social rights granted to refugees in Denmark. The
new system is based on a three-year “integration period” running from the granting of the refugee
status.
In connection with the Integration Act, new provisions in the Aliens Act regarding the granting of
permanent residence permit to refugees were passed in July 1998 (see “Refugee status” above)
together with an Act on Danish Language Tuition for Adult Aliens in Denmark, and a Repatriation
Act entered into force on 1 January 2000, providing for new rules on voluntary repatriation.
Several issues, such as child welfare for instance, are still regulated by the ordinary social laws.
In addition, once the three-year integration period is completed, refugees are no longer covered
by special laws but fall under the normal social legislation on the same footing as Danish citizens.
The Integration Act makes no distinction between persons granted Convention status, de facto
status, residence permit on humanitarian grounds, permits for exceptional reasons or residence
permits for specific refugee groups. All those groups, as well as the persons granted residence
permit for family reunification, are entitled to follow an integration programme offered by the local
authorities in the area, where they are settled.
Integration programme
Pursuant to the Integration Act, the local municipalities must offer an introductory three- year
integration programme to all newly arrived aliens (with the exception of Nordic and EU citizens)
over the age of 18 and below the age of pension. Municipalities are allowed to entrust other
organisations or institutions with the task of organising or implementing the programme. On this
basis, the Danish Refugee Council was involved in integration projects in 84 municipalities (out of
a total of 275) in 1999.
The integration programme must start within one month following the alien’s settlement in the
municipality. It includes the following elements:
– elaboration of an individual plan of action regarding employment or education;
– introduction classes to Danish society and culture (a minimum of 20 hours);
– Danish language tuition normally for 18 hours per week. Classes are established according to
the aliens’ respective linguistic skills and background. Each level is subject to a final test. In
principle, aliens may attend the classes for as long as necessary;
– “activation” measures aimed at promoting self-maintenance. This may include job training
schemes, adult and further education, voluntary work, job counselling, vocational guidance,
etc.
Danish classes and “activation” measures must represent a minimum average of 30 hours per
week altogether. Persons who do not need or are not able to participate in the integration
programme may be excepted fully or partly, for a shorter or longer period. People granted
disablement pension can be excepted definitely.
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Denmark