Welfare, Integration and Human Rights: A study on labour market segregation and integration policy in Norway.

Abstract: A fundamental principle of human rights is that of equality and non-discrimination. This should apply to every human being on an individual basis and to everyone of a Member State’s territory. However, in many countries immigrants face problems with high unemployment. In Norway, immigrants’ rate of unemployment is up to three times higher than that of native citizens. Unemployment rates following ethnicity might indicate discriminatory practices, and thus that everyone is not entitled to their human rights. Integration is a question of human rights and equal opportunities to participate in the society; labour market segregation affecting immigrants is thus a human rights issue. Therefore, it is of interest to look at how the labour market segregation in Norway is perceived and whether it is acknowledged in relation to human rights. This study aims to examine how, and to what extent, labour market segregation and integration are addressed from a human rights perspective in Norwegian integration policy and how this changes over time. By conducting discourse analysis, integration as a social phenomenon can be studied, as well as how labour market segregation, integration and immigrants are perceived, and what ideology is dominant in integration policy. The empirical material consists of two white papers concerning integration in Norway, released during two different time periods, both following periods of remarkably high unemployment for immigrants. The theoretical frame in this study has its starting point in human rights as a frame for integration politics in a welfare state. It also consists of integration and migration policies and theories of segregating practices, such as otherization and discrimination. Since the analyzed material is on a high political level aimed to address a nation, national discourse is also part of the theoretical structure, and multiculturalism/diversity as strategies in national policy. The results in this study reveal that labour market segregation to a great extent is recognized as a problem of discriminatory practices. Integration policies in both time periods thus aim to have a framework of human rights and equal opportunities. However, sustainment of the welfare State and profit-making are crucial, in which high employment and usage of the population’s resources are of great importance. Human rights discourses are subordinated economic discourses, and are mostly articulated as a tool in achieving high employment through equal opportunities. A transformation of human rights discourses over time is visible, however, aiming to be more inclusive and to counteract otherization in the latter time period. Although, the resource discourse is still dominating, in which cultural characteristics and skills are important. The rights of the individual are thus overlooked for the economic interests of the welfare State.