Table 1 Policies for newly arrived migrants—Sweden

1985 (Bill 1983/84:125)

Responsibility for introduction programmes is transferred to municipalities.

Economic compensation from the state to municipalities.

Adaptation of introduction programmes to local conditions.

1991 (Bill 1989/90:105 and Ordinance 1990:927)

New system of reimbursement to municipalities for refugee reception. Expansion of the target group.

Increased economic incentives for municipalities.

In collaboration with the Employment Service give local governments the freedom to take active measures to enable migrants to become self-sufficient.

1992 (Bill 1992:1068)

New introductory benefits for refugees and other foreigners.

Increased economic incentives for participants in introduction programmes.

Municipalities are given the chance to use non-means tested economic support to participants in an introduction programme.

1998 (Bill 1997/98:16)

New integration policy and establishment of the Integration Board.

Increased normative instruments for implementation of introduction programmes.

The new agency is to help municipalities to improve support for new immigrants.

2001

Central, regional and local agreements.

Increased normative instruments.

Strategy to improve collaboration and improve coordination of introduction programmes.

2010 (Bill 2009/10:188)

National Bonus for language acquisition

Increased economic incentives for participants in language tuition.

Encourage new immigrants to learn Swedish faster.

2010 (Bill 2009/10:60)

Responsibility for introduction programmes is transferred to the state.

Coercive instruments towards municipalities. Increased economic incentives for participants in introduction programmes and private actors.

Speed up new migrants’ transfer into work.

2014 (Bill 2012/13:188)

Expansion of the target group.

Economic compensation from the state to municipalities

Give more family-reunification migrants right to an introduction programme.