Paid to leave Norway

More asylum seekers should be paid to leave Norway. This proposal comes from the Minister of Labour and Social Inclusion, Bjarne Haakon Hanssen.

Persons who have received a final no to their application, should be given financial assistance in order to make them return to their homeland voluntarily, Hanssen says.

Fifty Afghan asylum seekers have already received NOK 15,000 each in travel assistance, and now the minister wants to give similar assistance to others.

In January, 1700 asylum seekers who had had their applications turned down were still in Norwegian transit centers.

These people must be given more incentives to return home, Hanssen says.

Conservative leader Erna Solberg from the opposition is sceptical. She believes the offer will result in more applications for asylum.

Solberg would rather send those whose application has been turned down to transit centers with only a minimum of support.

(NRK)

Rolleiv Solholm

Source: http://www.norwaypost.no/cgi-bin/norwaypost/imaker?id=54440 date: 19.02.2007 08:00