(THIS ARTICLE IS MACHINE TRANSLATED by Google from Norwegian)
Unlike the privately run Link AS, which spends less than budgeted on the receipts, the situation is scarce at Norwegian People's Aid. Tom Hjertholm, who is the unit manager for refugee and integration in the organization, explains: “We spend our budgets for resident-directed measures to a great extent, and very often apply for extras for extra activities. To provide more content to the asylum seekers beyond what we get from the UDI, we also work with volunteers and raise more money as well. ”
The Norwegian People's Aid organization has run asylum reception in Norway since the 1980 century. Residential work on the receptions can be anything from homework help to children, childcare or leisure activities. Do you experience situations, such as Link AS, where budget for resident-directed work is not used up?
“It happens very rarely, and usually the opposite – that we spend more. Then we cover it with other income as well. We cannot afford to lose money in receiving asylum, ”says Hjertholm.
Consider closing down. Hjertholm tells Ny Tid that Norwegian People's Aid may have to give up. The asylum reception centers are becoming a loss-making project. The problem is that tenders with a one-sided price focus from the UDI can go beyond the soundness of the operation. "We are constantly considering whether we can continue properly. We still believe that it is possible, but we are working to build a standard on what we can achieve with today's framework. The State of Norway as a client makes very few demands, apart from a bed to sleep in, a closet to have clothes in, food and the opportunity to wash clothes. This is pretty basic, "he says. «Focusing on price will over time lead to reduced staffing in reception. Another consequence is reduced quality. What you get from housing stock is less available within tight price limits, and there may be less resources for activities for the residents and those who sit and wait. "
Tender Budget. UDI enters into operating agreements with companies or non-profit organizations. Here, a budget is set for how much money to spend on what. While Link AS suggests that they do not find the budget legally binding, Norwegian People's Aid is of another opinion: “It is then a public tender and the contract we submit becomes legally binding when a contract is signed with the UDI. This also applies to staffing. The UDI requires that a position should not be left vacant for, for example, sick leave longer than three months. A transit reception with 24-hour staffing and rotation naturally deposits call-in workers immediately on sick leave, ”says Hjertholm. He calls for the UDI to impose stricter requirements on what should be the standard for asylum seekers, both in terms of the standard on the buildings and the offers to asylum seekers who spend an average of two years on the reception centers before settling in a municipality.
