New initiatives are to be introduced by Danish authorities in a bid to help foreign recruitments settle in the country as they are brought in to help with shortages in the social care sector.
The Minister for the Elderly, Mette Kierkgaard said that international recruitment is essential in the sector given the significant shortage of social and healthcare assistants in Denmark.
Kierkgaard’s comments come as the government plans to develop a welcome package to encourage staff from India and the Philippines to come to Denmark and take up positions in the sector.
Denmark could face a shortfall of up to 15,000 social and healthcare assistants within the next ten years, according to ministry projections.
“Integration and a proper welcome are absolutely crucial. This is all about bringing in skilled workers who feel happy and can see themselves building a life here,” Kierkgaard said to news wire Ritzau.
Denmark has previously announced plans to agree partnerships with both countries focused on education and recruitment.
A group working on behalf of the government is now working on the development of an introduction package for the foreign recruits, which will include Danish language courses. The group consists of representatives from municipalities, ministries and regional health authorities.
“The challenge in elderly care is not just to attract workers, but also to hold on to them. We need to get better at that so that we can also offer our elderly a high standard of care in future,” Kierkgaard said.
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Denmark has several reasons for partnering with India and the Philippines in the sector, the minister also said.
“Other countries, including the UK and Germany, have had good experiences in which staff have been trained in India and the Philippines and then become very well integrated at their new country’s workplaces,” she said.
Last year’s political agreement to bring in 1,000 social and health sector workers from non-EU countries has received criticism for taking those staff away from countries such as India and the Philippines, where shortages are more severe than in Denmark.
But a so-called modtagelsespakke or ‘arrival package’, agreed between the government and local and regional authorities, is due by December at the latest.
“For example, [it will include help with] housing, finding a job for your partner, schools, childcare and learning about Danish culture, Anders Winnerskjold, head of the health and children’s committee with the national organisations for municipalities, KL, told Ritzau.
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