Forced Migration in the OIC Member Countries:
Policy Framework Adopted by Host Countries
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expenses incurred by county authorities often exceed the amount of compensation they
receive.263
Seen in a more positive light, however, the increase in spending may serve as an economic
stimulus in the near term.264 Growing needs in the education, health, and social services has
created a huge labor demand in these sectors. The pressure on the housing market also
appears likely to spark a building boom. Residential construction, particularly of multi-family
homes, increased nearly 50 percent in the first quarter of 2016 over the same quarter of
2015.265 And in April 2016, the government announced a further SEK 1.85 billion
(approximately USD 225 million) in grants to municipalities designed to support the building
of new homes in cities that have taken in refugees.266
Some counties have also begun to think creatively about other ways to provide services in
order to relieve pressure on their systems. This points to another positive results of the recent
increase in asylum flows: the pressure on public services has sparked a surge in innovation in
many areas, and has created incentives to adjust regulations in other areas that have long
been seen as unnecessary or counterproductive. Some schools, for example, have begun to
experiment with distance learning or other tools that allow municipalities to share teachers or
services.267 The government has also invested SEK 10 million (approximately USD 1.2 million)
for 2016 in developing digital platforms to support language learning.268 Moreover, the influx
of newcomers has prompted a long overdue conversation on how to address the severe
housing shortage in Sweden, particularly in the public housing sector.
Some critical effects of the flows will not, however, emerge for several years. At the moment,
most of those who arrived in late 2015 are still receiving support and housing from the
Migration Agency. As their claims are assessed, responsibility for their care and integration
will shift to the Employment Service and municipalities. The Employment Service has already
predicted a dramatic increase in entrants to the introduction program in the coming years.
They are currently enrolling over 2,000 new participants per month, and expect to have
120,000 participants (more than double their current caseload) by 2019.269 For its part, the
Social Insurance Agency, which pays the introduction benefit as well as other supplementary
benefits such as housing and child allowances, predicts its expenses will begin to rise starting
in the fall of 2016 with the most significant impacts felt beginning in 2018. In total, they
263 The Association has thus called for reimbursements that are tied to actual expenses, rather than a fixed reimbursement
rate. Olsson and Eriksson,Hälso- och sjukvård åt asylsökande under år 2014
264 Aiyar et al., “The Refugee Surge in Europe: Economic Challenges”
265 Statistics Sweden, “New construction of residential buildings Started dwellings, 1st quarter 2016,” updated May 19,
2016,
construction-and-conversion/New-construction-of-residential-buildings/Aktuell-Pong/5602/Behallare-for-Press/403291/
266 Government Offices of Sweden, “Regeringen ger kommuner byggbonus för bostadsbyggande,” updated April 21, 2016,
267 Interview with Anne Öster and Annelie Rostedt, Work and Social Affairs Office, Stockholm County Administrative Board,
April 12, 2016. This practice is, however, not permitted under current regulations, and the government is currently moving
forward a proposal to make the sharing of such services legal. Government Offices of Sweden, “Fjärrundervisning och
entreprenad – nya möjligheter för undervisning och studiehandledning på modersmål,” updated April 28, 2016,
268 Government Offices of Sweden, “Initiatives in the spring budget for more efficient introduction and reduced
unemployment,” updated April 13, 2016,
budget-for-more-efficient-introduction-and-reduced-unemployment/
269 Interview with Jennie Larsson, Integration Researcher, Public Employment Service, April 13, 2016