Immigration in Sweden - Essay Example

Immigration in Sweden In Sweden, there is over-representation of immigrants in statistics, which is alarming. Most of the refugees are Iraqis who fled from their country during periods of war and riots made by Muslims with claims of mistreatments by the police. A study by the Swedish migration board shows that these refugees have contributed to higher crime rate. Those under legal permission to get refuge in Sweden are very few and, hence, there is the need for protection of Swedish citizens. It is due to the generosity of the Swedish government that has raised the rate of immigrants’ applications for asylum seekers. This swelling number of immigrants is causing a lot of tension on the economy of Sweden (Pred, 2000). Due to this, there has risen the need for the authorities to implement policies to enhance the co-existence between its residents and the immigrants. The Minister for Foreign Affairs passed the bill in the Swedish parliament, suggesting that immigrants seeking residence should not be given permanent permit but a temporary one. He argued that granting asylum should be considered as a humanitarian act rather than an opportunity for the asylum seeker to become Swedish citizens (Koch, 1997). In the parliament the minister supported the right of immigrants’ children to go to school, and added that it has to be legalized, since schooling is a mandatory. The government should support this by including learning expenditure expenses in the budget (Steinmo, 2010). Whereas some countries consider immigration to be a problem, it is a treasure for others. They value the mix of individuals from different nationalities and believe that this will help in promoting the countries’ economy. These immigrants are a source of labor and, therefore, the more they are the more the output is likely to rise promoting the wellbeing of the state and its inhabitants. However, the case with Sweden is different since they see refugees to be a liability, filling classrooms for the native children, consuming food and other resources. They argue that the type of immigrants who come to their country only spend and do not contribute to the production process and thereby keeping Sweden’s welfare systems afloat (Bucken 2009). The Swedes believe that their integration and immigration policies are not up to the needs of the state and are a failure. They oppose the idea of integration arguing that the immigrants are only a burden to the residents. They only cause economic and social strains to the country (Gregg, 2009). This increased rate of immigration threatens societal togetherness and national identity too. Some people move for social and economic reasons while others flee persecution hoping to get better prospects in the future. Therefore, to ensure that immigration is not of much negative impact to a state there is need to set up regulations. This safeguards the economy from being un-stabilized. According to immigrant researchers, refugees do face discrimination in jobs, schools, and even housing. This racism does not give them a conducive environment to take part in production and, therefore, they do not take part in welfare enhancing activities for the state. To cut on the number of immigrants the Swedish government has put about procedure for visa application, this helps deny asylum seekers the visas. However, this does not separate the genuine refuge seekers from the unwanted ones. The government has also set other barriers to ensure protection of its citizens. Some of the asylums are deported and thereby once deported, one cannot benefit from a favorable appellate decision (Gregg, 2009). With the increased mobilization on refugee issue, refugee children in Sweden were given the permit to enjoy their right of education right from kindergarten to higher learning institutions. Previously, there existed set of regulations that deterred children of illegal immigrants from attending public schools. New laws have been set giving the priority to those who wish to study. This has enabled an improvement in the performance of immigrants’ children in school giving them opportunities in the labour market. This effective interaction between natives and immigrants has been necessitated by the opportunities for language learning and adult education. Residential segregation and discrimination is no longer an issue since they are able to dwell peacefully together. Another reason f or regulating rates of immigration is the need to ensure that insurance covers, wages and other employment terms are equal to the working conditions of the employees. Therefore, trade unions and government agencies should consult on how much labour is to be taken in to the country. Decline in population supported the need for implementing new policies on migration. With many Swedes getting older and more leaving working age, this ends up affecting the labour market negatively and economic growth too. The Swedish government also followed the example of other governments giving it the idea to restrict on immigration (Pred, 2000). Some of these bodies that mind on the welfare of refuges include the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) which through its conventions it implements laws and regulations in favor of the refugees. Non-governmental organizations also come in to assist the members of government in setting up of policies. They bargains for the social well being of the refugees and protect them from facing intimidated. It is the pressure groups and the international society who lobby most governments to change their perception on refugees. His is what created the origin of Sweden’s integration policy. It aims at giving the guarantee that alien citizens are to be given the priority to enjoy the same terms of employment and housing, just as for the natives of Sweden (Steinmo, 2010). Individuals have also come up to help empower refugees, especially women and children, launching them into the labour market and connecting them to gain the educational system similar to that of the citizens (Bucken, 2009, p. 14). Through their mentorship, they create competitiveness in the job market and, therefore, giving hopes of success in the economy. Securing a job in the Sweden comes along with other benefits like paid parental and sick leave, pension and even insurance from unemployment. Those who completely lack skills get enrolled for adult learning classes and thereby ensuring they can earn a living. To legalize immigration, we first should check on the role played by immigrants in poverty reduction and in promoting development in their original countries and the enrichment, they offer to their current destination countries. Scholars have also noted that migration can be a powerful tool for development if migrants send home their earnings, transmit useful new skills and knowledge to relatives and friends. They can also come up with business ideas and help put them in practice in their countries of origin and thereby this will contribute to economic growth and development with time (Grete & Hagelund, 2012). Sweden continues to regulate migrations into the country that are work related. Any immigrants looking for employment gets the permit prior to arriving in the country. This helps to limit the number of immigrants and, there fore, it ensures that the country’s population is at manageable levels. Many immigrants will lead to over population resulting to over exhaustion of the available resources. This endangers the coming generations and hinders their survival. By accepting immigrants into the country who have work-related, reasons will enhance Swedes ability to conquer both present and future challenges in the economy (Bucken, 2009). Therefore, immigrants have so much to contribute in vitalizing a positive economic impact in the labour market. Immigration may take a different turn in areas where human trafficking and smuggling for slave work and prostitution is found. They do not acquire legal travel documents; legal residences since their activities are illegal, and they try their best to dodge the law (Porter & Prince, 2011). These are activities that no government authority has permitted nor knows where they are done. The change in demographic trends to an increasingly older population results to increasing the dependency levels and this may affect the structure of the labour market causing negative effects (Gregg, 2009). The swelling immigration activities have affected life from all its dimensions including political, social, economic, and environmental too. Racism, tribalism, and chauvinism hinder the peaceful co-existence of humans. People can divide themselves according to their similarities; this may foster unfriendly coexistence leading to all time clashes. Overpopulation is an issue that comes about with immigration (Porter & Prince, 2011). A small piece of land accommodating more people that it should leave it exhausted. This overuse of environmental resources leading to exhaustion has raised the need for restrictions to avoid overcrowding. In the end, immigration restriction may result in giving more opportunities to the citizens of Sweden and, therefore, this enables circulation of finances and skills within the economy benefiting the residents. Economic growth is likely to be more intensified in such cases and, therefore, improving living standards of those within Sweden (Bucken, 2009). Profits made are invested back in the Swedish state improving its economy and, hence, creating more jobs within the economy of the country. In respect to these advancements, dependency levels also decline. The exportation of skills does not favor growth of the exporting country but affects the importing country in many ways (Kellogg, 2011). In conclusion, by encouraging migration in Sweden this can prompt so much positive impact in the globe. It encourages the exchange of skills, knowledge, and experience within different regions. Many individuals have the potential but lack of an enabling environment and the proper empowerment holds them back to giving their best. This has encouraged individuals, non-governmental organizations and the government itself into supporting immigrants by offering them with the human necessities. However, through Sweden’s generosity many states learn how important it can be to accommodate immigrants, though it may come along with some negative aspects. Such immigration policy will also enhance togetherness of individuals in different areas despite of their races, nationality, origin or skin colour. References Bucken-Knapp, G. (2009). Defending the Swedish model: Social democrats, trade unions, and labor migration policy reform. Lanham: Lexington Books. Gregg, B. (2009). Defending the Swedish model: Social democrats, trade unions, and labor migration policy reform. Plymouth: Rowman & Littlefield. Grete, B. & Hagelund, A. (2012). Immigration policy and the Scandinavian welfare state 1945-2010. London: Palgrave Macmillan. Kellogg, A. (2011). Sweden’s immigration debate. Foxnews. Retrieved on 25 October, 2012, from http://www.foxnews.com/world/2011/10/28/swedens-immigration-debate/ Koch, M. et al. (1997). From generosity to sustainability: The Austrian pension system and options for its reform. Washington, D.C.: International Monetary Fund, European I Dept. and Fiscal Affairs Dept. Porter, D. & Prince, D. (2011). Frommers Sweden. New York: John Wiley & Sons. Pred, A. (2000). Even in Sweden: Racisms, racialized spaces, and the popular geographical imagination. California: University of California Press. Steinmo, S. (2010). The evolution of modern states: Sweden, Japan, and the United States. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Read More