Compulsory Work for Benefit Claimants in Denmark

[paul mckenna]

This makes my politic-naive head hurt a little - Denmark is mandating compulsory work for people who've not worked for past 3 years and cannot speak Danish.

I always thought the nordics were socialist/leftist but appreciate it's more complex than that. This is the beeb - Denmark tells some migrants to work for benefits

 

[a_chap]

Denmark is mandating compulsory work for people who've not worked for past 3 years and cannot speak Danish.

These people they are targeting, you know the ones who cannot speak Danish, how would they know they're being told to do compulsory work?

 

[SpackleFrog]

I always thought the nordics were socialist/leftist but appreciate it's more complex than that.

Probably more accurate to say that social democracy lasted a bit longer there

 

[Elpenor]

My understanding from friends who have worked over in Denmark and have an appreciation of Danish society via their colleagues is that a fair proportion of Danes aren’t so keen on people (chiefly immigrants I assume) who haven’t paid into the system but take advantage of the benefits.

Oh and they’re all quite racist / sexist etc (women’s place is in the home, man is the provider mindset was in evidence) according to one person who spent 6 months there.

 

[kebabking]

This makes my politic-naive head hurt a little - Denmark is mandating compulsory work for people who've not worked for past 3 years and cannot speak Danish.

I always thought the nordics were socialist/leftist but appreciate it's more complex than that. This is the beeb - Denmark tells some migrants to work for benefits

My understanding from friends who have worked over in Denmark and have an appreciation of Danish society via their colleagues is that a fair proportion of Danes aren’t so keen on people (chiefly immigrants I assume) who haven’t paid into the system but take advantage of the benefits.

Oh and they’re all quite racist / sexist etc (women’s place is in the home, man is the provider mindset was in evidence) according to one person who spent 6 months there.

No no no, you don't understand - Denmark is one of those lovely places where Remaniacs, Guardian readers, and 'left' Liberals move to in order to get away from thicky racist Britain now you aren't allowed to buy avacados here.

#FBPE

 

[Bus Honeygun]

My understanding from friends who have worked over in Denmark and have an appreciation of Danish society via their colleagues is that a fair proportion of Danes aren’t so keen on people (chiefly immigrants I assume) who haven’t paid into the system but take advantage of the benefits.

Oh and they’re all quite racist / sexist etc (women’s place is in the home, man is the provider mindset was in evidence) according to one person who spent 6 months there.

Yes, I read some stuff recently and it's not really a socialist society in the slightest, just one where there is a strong social contract between capital and labour, which does look pretty utopian to British eyes, but probably shows just how far our dog-eat-dog post-Thatcher society has swung.

I'm going there in a couple of weeks and will report back.

(By which I mean I'm in the country for about 24 hours and most of that time will be spent hanging around on trains.)

 

[Pickman's model]

Yes, I read some stuff recently and it's not really a socialist society in the slightest, just one where there is a strong social contract between capital and labour, which does look pretty utopian to British eyes, but probably shows just how far our dog-eat-dog post-Thatcher society has swung.

I'm going there in a couple of weeks and will report back.

(By which I mean I'm in the country for about 24 hours and most of that time will be spent hanging around on trains.)

try some of their fine travelling beers

 

[paul mckenna]

sounds fair though

 

[pug]

sounds fair though

What does?

 

[paul mckenna]

the subject of the thread

 

[A380]

Having an umpty trillion kroner Sovereign Wealth Fund because they didn't piss their North Sea Oil money away on shit privatisations and Belgium Chocolates helps too...

 

[pug]

the subject of the thread

oh.

 

[paul mckenna]

Should immigrants who choose not to work nor learn the native language forfeit benefits? That's the question being danced around here

 

[existentialist]

Should immigrants who choose not to work nor learn the native language forfeit benefits? That's the question being danced around here

While the reality is that many, often skilled, refugees languish here in decrepit ex-military accommodation, and are specifically prevented from working. But I don't suppose you'll be letting that undermine your convenient narrative.

 

[paul mckenna]

We're not talking about asylum seekers here, clearly. Immigrants. And my narrative (whatever you may think it is) has nothing to do with the question posed

 

[Kevbad the Bad]

Should immigrants who choose not to work nor learn the native language forfeit benefits? That's the question being danced around here

Immigrants of working age are normally more than eager to learn the language of their new host country. If nothing else, just to be able to live normal lives, buy things in the shops, ask directions, chat with the neighbours, make new friends, etc etc.
It's not always true, of course. The English, mostly, never bothered learning the language in Wales, Ireland, Scotland or indeed the whole bleeding British Empire.

 

[paul mckenna]

A good yet tangential point

Should immigrants who choose not to work nor learn the native language forfeit benefits?

 

[existentialist]

A good yet tangential point

Should immigrants who choose not to work nor learn the native language forfeit benefits?

There is a debate to be had around stuff like that, but not with people who come to it laden with agenda.

 

[Kevbad the Bad]

A good yet tangential point

Should immigrants who choose not to work nor learn the native language forfeit benefits?

This would mean that immigrants who are fluent in the native language but dead lazy get the benefits. Those who aren't fluent either become really poor and ill and a burden on the NHS, or turn to crime as the only source of income. What twat came up with that bright idea?

 

[paul mckenna]

hmmm i think the idea is to encourage this subsection to actually work and learn the language. That should actually make them less needy of health services i'd have imagined

 

[paul mckenna]

There is a debate to be had around stuff like that, but not with people who come to it laden with agenda.

again, my agenda-laden existence does not influence the question at hand

Should immigrants who choose not to work nor learn the native language forfeit benefits?

 

[nottsgirl]

again, my agenda-laden existence does not influence the question at hand

Should immigrants who choose not to work nor learn the native language forfeit benefits?

Choose is doing a lot of heavy lifting here.

 

[paul mckenna]

Happy to rephrase.

Should able-bodied immigrants not speaking the native language and who do not to work (or take proscribed work duties) for a defined period forfeit benefits?

 

[nottsgirl]

Happy to rephrase.

Should able-bodied immigrants not speaking the native language and who do not to work (or take proscribed work duties) for a defined period forfeit benefits?

No, definitely not.

 

[nottsgirl]

The cost of implementing and mitigating this policy would far exceed any financial savings (even without taking into account that it’s the wrong thing to do). It’s very mean spirited and deliberately targets a vulnerable section of society.

 

[Kevbad the Bad]

Happy to rephrase.

Should able-bodied immigrants not speaking the native language and who do not to work (or take proscribed work duties) for a defined period forfeit benefits?

Tell you what. Instead of asking the same question over and over, even if slightly rephrased, why not tell us what you think, and why?

 

[paul mckenna]

I think it's very relevant that immigrants should learn the language. Isn't that obvious?

And when one subsection of society does not work despite the opportunity, then i also think it's relevant that they should not receive benefits. Again, pretty obvious

 

[A380]

Immigrants of working age are normally more than eager to learn the language of their new host country. If nothing else, just to be able to live normal lives, buy things in the shops, ask directions, chat with the neighbours, make new friends, etc etc.
It's not always true, of course. The English, mostly, never bothered learning the language in Wales, Ireland, Scotland or indeed the whole bleeding British Empire.

That’s because we weren’t immigrants. We were Occupiers. Besides you can steal most people’s stuff just by speaking loudly and slowly and having guns when they were armed with fruit.

 

[paul mckenna]

So i'm putting you down as a 'no' then am I Kevbad? Just better if we're all clear on this

 

[existentialist]

I think it's very relevant that immigrants should learn the language. Isn't that obvious?

And when one subsection of society does not work despite the opportunity, then i also think it's relevant that they should not receive benefits. Again, pretty obvious

Do you speak a second language?