Russian labour for northern Norway

–We want to stimulate economic growth and contact between people across the Norwegian-Russian border, Norwegian Minister of Labour and Social Inclusion Bjarne Håkon Hansen says in a press release on the issue. The white paper was presented by the minister in the shipyard of Kimek in Kirkenes today. The white paper proposes to make it far easier for Russians to get temporary working permissions in the three northernmost Norwegian counties of Finnmark, Troms and Nordland. The new legislation, which will apply for people from the Russian part of the Barents Region, will open up for two-year working permissions within all industries. Also permissions for commuting and part-time work will be given. A service and information office for Russian work immigrants will be established in the border town of Kirkenes. In addition, the government will initiate a study on the possible introduction of a so-called “border citizen certificate”, which will grant special travel rights to the people living in the border areas. The government initiative comes as the Russian State Duma prepares for the ratification of the new Russian-Norwegian visa facilitation, which will introduce multi-year visas between the two countries. The white paper from the Norwegian government might prepare the ground for a significant boost in Norwegian-Russian cross-border relations. The proposals presented could also put Norway one step ahead of its competitors in the fight for qualified work force in the North. Photos: The Norwegian Barents Secretariat