Immigrants' co-organization: Start by reviewing sfi

The Interpretation Board's interpretation assistance is now being investigated on behalf of the committee's chairman Richard Lundberg (M). One purpose: Increase integration and get more people to learn Swedish.

But Saul Sagnia, who leads Invasam, thinks it's the wrong way to go.

- In that case, it is better to start by reviewing the teaching of SFI, Swedish for immigrants, he says.

Richard Lundberg (M) says that it is also included in the planning, though later, and that although new guidelines will come, the service personnel should be able to make exceptions if they consider that interpreting is needed.

Nadine Khalir is Acting Head of Operations for Work on Financial Assistance in the Labor Market Administration. She says it's the law that applies.

- It is the one we follow when we assess what interpreting needs are in each situation, she says.

Richard Lundberg talks about people with residence permits who have lived in Sweden for a long time but still cannot speak Swedish.

But Nadina Khalil says that there are no similarities between permanent residence permit and long time in Sweden.

- There are applicants who can obtain permanent residence permits when they are brand new in Sweden, she says.

Saul Sagnia sees a risk that the new guidelines could have the wrong effects.

- It means a lot, both for the individual and the authorities, that there is a clear communication from both directions so that they understand each other and the decisions are made correctly, he says.