Social Affairs Minister Worried About Immigrant Children

Minister of Housing and Social Affairs Eygló Harðardóttir said she is worried about second- and third-generation children of immigrants, saying that they are in danger of becoming isolated.

RÚV reports that her ministry is also concerned about immigrants on the rental market.

“We are very worried about the status of immigrants on the real estate market, as it relates to overall integration into Icelandic society,” she told reporters. “Language comprehension is also important, in order to ensure that the children of immigrants can finish primary school, continue to secondary school, and then decide to learn a trade or go to university.”

Eygló says her ministry has learned of examples of immigrants having a difficult time on the rental market, often because they speak little Icelandic and do not have as many social connections as the locals.

As reported, Eygló intends to submit legislation this fall that would make racial discrimination illegal in Iceland. Iceland is currently the only European country without such legislation.