Labour Market Integration in Denmark: Civil Society Barriers and Enablers

The role of civil society organizations (CSOs) in the formulation and implementation of public policy on the Danish labour market is highly institutionalized – especially in the area of the labour market integration of refugee and non-refugee migrants. Ostensibly, this ensures that civil society, often considered an essential mechanism of checks and balances, monitors and challenges the state (when needed) as an integral stakeholder in policymaking and implementation. Furthermore, CSOs provide a wide range of integration-related services to refugee and non-refugee migrants. For one thing, they operate as consultative bodies that provide consultation services to governmental and non-governmental entities. Danish CSOs are also service providers that operate as a “stop gap”, hired by public authorities to provide (public) goods and services. To this end, they provide language services and are responsible for the everyday welfare of asylum seekers at Danish asylum centres. CSOs engage in lobbying activities in relation to existent and soon-to-be implemented labour market integration policies that draw on their experience as service providers as well as their familiarity with the socioeconomic and cultural challenges faced by refugee and non-refugee migrants. CSOs deliver essential voluntary services as well and provide pro bono legal assistance on matters related to asylum applications and appeals, asylum interview preparation, family reunification and translation services in relation to legal procedures. Finally, CSOs provide networking services that assist refugee and non-refugee migrants build their social and professional network in Denmark, with the hope that this would eventually help them secure employment.