\n The Social Democrats have said if they win the election in Stockholm as well as regional elections, they will set up a new ‘expat welcome desk’ for foreign workers arriving in the city.\n <\/p>\n
The idea for the new office, a kind of one-stop shop where new arrivals get advice on handling bureaucracy and settling in, is influenced by similar offerings in rival cities such as Copenhagen and Helsinki.<\/p>\n
The party says it will be a “haven” where foreign new arrivals can receive guidance on getting a personal number and a bank account, on the housing market, language courses, schools and preschools, at the same time as getting help building a social network and tips on activities and events they can take part in.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The Social Democrats believe that Stockholm is in a “global race for talent”, with every foreign researcher and highly skilled worker potentially bringing new jobs, patents and investments.<\/p>\n
But the party says the current right-wing government at the national level has created a climate where such people are met with “unwelcoming attitudes, unclear rules and a lack of support”.\u00a0<\/p>\n
“The idea with this is to target international talent and their dependants,” Emilia Bjuggren, the Vice Mayor responsible for the labour market, told The Local.<\/p>\n
“This is about making sure that people who choose to come to Stockholm to strengthen our competitiveness should also feel that this is a good place to live.”\u00a0<\/p>\n
“We will gather both the support and guidance that is currently scattered in many places in one place, both physically and digitally,” she added. “It’s basically to help in both giving practical guidance but also on all the things that make life in Stockholm wonderful.”\u00a0<\/p>\n