(THIS ARTICLE IS MACHINE TRANSLATED by Google from Norwegian)
The agency of Absolute Employees at Hamar has for many years worked with recruiting immigrants, including a number of Somalis. Lars Lund, who was involved in starting the temporary agency in 2000, does not recognize himself when some claim that immigrants do not want to work.
- It is a reality that I do not recognize myself in. Our experience is that everyone, regardless of origin, wants to work. We get daily visits from people from other parts of the world who ask for a job, says Lars Lund.
He has some experience in hiring Somalis, and has only positive feedback to give.
- The Somalis are very good at following up and staying up to date on what is happening with us. We have got some of them into work, and they are doing well. I have just had one from Somalia who has been with us before. He came back now after living elsewhere in the country for a while. Now he has got a permanent job, but it is not full time, so he came to us, and we have got him an extra job, says Lars Lund.
Learn Norwegian
Lars Lund says they can get jobs for most people who come and ask for jobs.
- If they are good in Norwegian, then it is no problem to find a job for them, Lund says and at the same time refers to the biggest challenge for people who come to Norway
- The most important thing is that they learn proper Norwegian as quickly as possible after they have arrived in the country. Language is crucial for a good collaboration in a workplace, says Lars Lund.
He says that they are visited by immigrants who want to take a job instead of going to Norwegian courses. They claim that they first need a job before they can learn Norwegian.
- I recommend everyone to learn the language well before applying to the labor market.
Lars Lund says that among those who come in as job seekers, there are many with very good education from their home country, but that it is difficult to find jobs in Norway that correspond to the job they should have had.
- Among other things, I have had a former newspaper editor from Somalia as a job seeker. With his qualifications, he should get a good job in Norway. I could not offer him such a job and was very happy with the cleaning job I had available. He wanted to work anyway, says Lars Lund.
Better attitudes
Lund emphasizes that there are a number of challenges associated with hiring immigrants, but that these are no more difficult than they can be solved if the parties try.
- There is a big difference in what a Norwegian does when someone in the family becomes ill, compared to what many other peoples do. Such situations can be difficult to accept for an employer who suddenly loses a person who has returned home to care for a sick mother.
Lars Lund believes that cultural differences do not have to be an obstacle for immigrants looking for work.
- My experience is that in all ethnic groups, most people want a job that can ensure themselves and the family an income. Employers should also be more open to taking in people from other parts of the world. The companies that have employed immigrants will return and want more when they again need labor, says Lund.
- It turns out that the employers who have first hired immigrants quickly understand how important this workforce is for them. And that it is reliable, says Lars Lund, who could envision an attitude campaign among employers to make them better at hiring the most skilled – no matter where they come from.
