Non-European immigrants in Sweden face social benefits cut

The Swedish government has announced plans to tighten the eligibility criteria for social benefits for non-European immigrants in an attempt to discourage further migration to Sweden while also addressing the integration challenges posed by existing immigrants.

As reported by Daily Sabah, the government, led by Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson's minority coalition with support from the right-wing Sweden Democrats (SD), is taking a tougher stance on immigration and addressing issues related to crime.

Sweden has been a destination for a significant number of immigrants, particularly from conflict-affected regions such as the former Yugoslavia, Syria, Afghanistan, Somalia, Iran, and Iraq since the 1990s. However, the country has faced difficulties in integrating these newcomers.

In an opinion piece published in the newspaper "Dagens Nyheter", the leaders of the ruling coalition and the SD highlighted that over 770,000 individuals from non-European Union and non-European Economic Area countries have immigrated to Sweden since 2012. They argue that Sweden's lenient integration policies have not effectively encouraged immigrants to integrate into society, resulting in a divided nation marked by segregation, social exclusion, high unemployment, inadequate educational outcomes, and a lack of shared Swedish values.

The government's proposed reforms include requirements for non-European immigrants to learn Swedish and secure employment in the country's skilled job market. A detailed plan is expected to be developed through an ongoing investigation.

Additionally, the government plans to impose a cap on benefits for non-European immigrants to prevent them from receiving multiple allowances, such as those for housing, children, unemployment, sickness, and parental leave. There will also be a waiting period, the duration of which has yet to be determined, before immigrants become eligible for benefits.