One of the core elements of the Integration Act is the three-year Integration Programme for adult refugees and immigrants who hold a residence permit based on family reunification. Its main priorities are civic education, Danish language classes and the job “activation” of unemployed immigrants for whom the programme is mandatory. Non-participation can result in the withdrawal of introduction benefits. The programme consists of job-centred activities such as counselling, skills-enhancement courses, internships and sometimes subsidised employment.
Although reformed on several occasions, it remains the only integration programme ever established. Over the years, its length has evolved, as have its tools. Individual integration contracts were, for example, introduced in 2006. In 2016, the programme was extended from three years to a flexible period of one to five years. The focus on labour market insertion was further strengthened with measures aimed at businesses. And language schools must now offer classes outside business hours to allow migrants to combine work and courses, as provided by the 2016 agreement on labour market integration.
In March 2016, the Government concluded talks with social partners (employer organisations, unions and local authorities) which resulted in a tripartite agreement aimed at improving the outcomes of employment and integration programmes. With “work from day one” as the guiding principle, the agreement calls for a better screening of refugees’ competencies, combining employment and language classes, and tying refugees’ territorial allocation to job opportunities. A new job and training programme (Integrationsgrunduddannelse, or IGU), by which newcomers are gradually brought into regular employment over the course of two years was introduced on 1 July 2016. This model includes so-called apprentice pay and combines work with intensive training.