Norway welcomes Russians

The Norwegian Minister of Labour and Social Inclusion, Bjarne Håkon Hanssen, wants to make it easier for Russians to work in northern Norway. A new proposal aims to make it easier for people in the border region to travel, work and study across the border and henceforth increase cooperation and economic development in the region. The Norwegian Barents Secretariat are among those welcoming the proposed modifications of existing requirements and procedures for obtaining visas and work permits for Norway. The proposal is expected to be well received by private business in northern Norway that, like in the rest of the country, lacks labour due to the current low unemployment rate.