Address by the Minister of Fisheries, Einar K. Guðfinnsson, to the Conference
Finding Shelter on an Unknown Shore (Í logni við ókunna strönd)
in Ísafjörður, 26-28 March 2007
In one of the songs by Icelandic ballad singer Hörður Torfason, God is asked what can be done about all these foreigners, flooding into the community and threatening the local inhabitants.The heavenly father does not even pause to reflect before answering:“Give them flowers … Yes, a bouquet of flowers – and a bag of nuts and raisins.”
Contrary to what most people believe, persons of foreign origin have long been a factor of life in Iceland.They have taken the initiative in many activities, such as various cultural pursuits in Iceland, where immigrants were in the forefront for much of the early 1900s.Those of us who live in the West Fjords are aware of this, and also aware of the major contribution which foreign-born residents have made to our community for decades.I can personally recall clearly the days when people from New Zealand and Australia came to Iceland in droves around 1970.Young and energetic people, many of them out to see the European world, learned there were opportunities to be had in Iceland, for people wanting to work hard for good pay.At that time, these large numbers of young people changed the appearance of communities in the West Fjords.Language was no serious hindrance, most of us could make ourselves understood in English, and life with the newcomers was a lively and enjoyable experience.Some acquaintances formed during those years even ended in marriage, with people who hailed from distant shores settling here or Icelanders moving to those faraway lands.
Was this positive or negative?I have never heard anyone claim otherwise than that the impact of all of this was to the benefit of our community.There's a lesson to be learned here.Language was not a barrier. We realise that the key to a viable community, comprised of people from different cultural backgrounds, is communication. To be able to talk to one another, to adapt to new surroundings. In my opinion, this is the task we face today, as Iceland is changing into a multicultural community. To do everything we can to make this a possibility.As rich as this nation is, we can easily do this.
The percentage of foreign citizens in employment in Iceland is very high, even higher than that of Icelanders, which is among the highest anywhere.This is quite different from the situation in many other countries, where the percentage of immigrants in the workforce is relatively low.In Iceland it is over 90%, as compared with 50-60% in other Nordic countries, for instance.In other words, foreign-born residents in Iceland are active citizens, who pay their taxes, fulfil their obligations and contribute to society in many ways.According to figures from the Directorate of Labour, the number of work permits granted to foreign residents rose from 1,206 in 1996 to 6,367 in 2005.
This occurred before we decided not to avail ourselves of the provision in the EEA Agreement entitling Iceland to postpone opening its labour markets to citizens from new EU member states.In my opinion, criticism of this decision by the government is either based on a misunderstanding or purely an attempt to deceive people.
Nor should we forget that following this decision we managed to eliminate a very disreputable practice in the form of temporary employment agencies which took advantage of foreign workers, deceived them about wages, accommodated them in miserable quarters unfit for human habitation, and by so doing were able to underbid legitimate operators.This decision was, in my estimation, an advantageous one and definitely sensible in view of the situation prevailing in our business and economic life.
It has been said that the arrival of foreign workers on the Icelandic labour market has lowered living standards and even deprived people of jobs.Nothing could be further from the truth.A few days ago I paid a visit to HB Grandi in Akranes.The capelin season was in full swing, people were working around the clock to freeze and process capelin roe.The company’s management pointed out that it would not have been possible to process this resource, to create a high value product, without the input of foreign workers. Their participation in this employment actually opened up new and additional job opportunities for Icelanders.In other words:The contribution of foreign workers was in fact an impetus for employment jobs in Iceland.Rather than taking jobs from Icelanders, they were on the contrary creating them.
In fish processing, foreign workers play a major role.In 2005, around 1220 foreign workers were employed in fish processing, an increase of 300 since 1998.Interestingly enough, there had been no increase here in the West Fjords. It could be said that the number of foreign workers in fish processing in the West Fjords has stabilised at a level we can expect to continue in coming years. Considering the technological advances, we can hardly expect the number of jobs in fish processing to increase in Iceland.It is, however, just as evident that the number of foreign workers has increased in other sectors and that this trend is not likely to be reversed.It is exactly the same as we see taking place in other countries we generally compare ourselves with.The composition of Icelandic society is very similar to that of neighbouring countries.We are to an increasing extent becoming a service-oriented society. Foreign workers in these sectors are increasing in number and are, in fact, a pre-requisite for their development.
There is no denying, however, that this is a very small community and that, just like other countries, we need to proceed with moderation.We are now part of the European Economic Area, where freedom of movement of the workforce is a basic principle.This does not, however, mean we cannot meet certain basic requirements and will clearly affect our actions concerning issuance of work and residence permits to persons from countries outside the EEA.This has already occurred.Workers from the EU have, for the most part, fulfilled the manpower needs of business and industry, with the result that the number of persons coming from other parts of the world has decreased.
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In the minds of most Icelanders, our nationality is something quite special.We often speak of the country’s origins, and of how Icelanders survived through the centuries on less than fertile farms, waging a daily battle against the inclement natural forces in a harsh and cold climate.Our cultural heritage - language and literature – are mentioned just as frequently.And we are no less proud of how quickly we became modernised early in the 20th century.
As Icelanders, we certainly have much to be proud of.This is a bountiful country, with all its resources, striking natural beauty and high quality of life.The economy and industry are flourishing, the standard of living among the highest in the world, we are becoming more and more like the neighbouring countries with which we compare ourselves: a community with a multi-sector economy and international in most respects.We possess rare cultural treasures, live fulfilling lives and are today a rich nation - among the world's richest – well-cared for and well nourished in mind and body.
And precisely because of this, we should be in a much better position than many other nations to welcome immigrants from other countries.People who come here to work with us, keep our economy going, accelerate our development – and people who enrich our cultural and social environment markedly.We can only applaud their arrival and do our best to welcome them properly, whether they come for a shorter or longer stay.It is to the benefit of us all.
And what is involved in welcoming immigrants properly?Here we all bear a responsibility, although naturally the public authorities must set a good example to be followed.Public immigration policy must be aimed primarily at dispelling prejudice towards immigrants and facilitating their adaptation to local society without losing their own national identity, language and culture.The basic assumption has to be that a multicultural society is an advantage and that variety enriches Icelandic society.Special attention has to be paid to information provision, interpretation services, labour market issues, additional research on the immigrants’ situation and, last but not least, instruction in Icelandic.But it is also natural that we set certain demands as a society.Tolerance for others does not mean sacrificing basic principles of western democracy, human rights, gender equality, respect for differences and other such values.We must expect others to accept this.Failure to do so would mean that our tolerance, democratic traditions and values would be lost, to the detriment of all of us.
Nor should we forget the many positive achievements in immigration issues.I would like to mention especially the Multicultural Centre here in Ísafjörður and the West Fjords Continuing Education Centre and the Akureyri and Reykjavík Intercultural Centres. The Icelandic parliament has adopted legislation on immigration issues, including temporary employment agencies, rights of foreign workers and, most recently, expat employees of foreign companies.Many companies, not least here in the West Fjords, have made a very laudable effort to receive and assist their foreign workers and have shown concern for their problems, for instance, by arranging Icelandic instruction for them.
Instruction in Icelandic free of charge is one of the most effective ways we can offer of helping people adapt.Course must be arranged so that everyone is able to attend and benefit.It is easier said than done, to attend several hours of instruction several times a week, in a language which is completely foreign, after putting in a long day's work.We can ask ourselves how we would feel in such a situation.
I have previously described how I have asked the Committee on Vocational Education in Fisheries (Starfsfræðslunefnd fiskvinnslunnar) to co-operate with the Multicultural Centre here in Ísafjörður in providing vocational Icelandic courses for foreign workers in fisheries in Iceland.Instruction in Icelandic will be intertwined with the Committee’s basic courses and its teaching materials adapted to meet the needs of foreign workers with limited knowledge of Icelandic.These courses will be offered instead of the Committee’s traditional basic courses.The objective of the project is to expand the learners’ vocabulary and knowledge in each section of the course, increasing their knowledge of Icelandic while making it easier for them both to do their jobs and communicate with others at work. And hopefully to encourage them to undertake yet further study in Icelandic.Hopefully it will also increase job satisfaction which will, in turn, mean a better working environment and higher value added.
The intention is to begin with one 80-hour course for employees of Íslandssaga in Suðureyri.The management of Íslandssaga have responded positively to the suggestion and expressed their willingness to co-operate. I would like to take this opportunity to thank them for this positive response.After this course has concluded, similar courses are to be offered throughout Iceland.
We have considerable obligations, both towards these new residents in our country and also towards our own community.We want people to be able to live together in harmony, and to do so we have to help them with their communication needs.Here language is the key.
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People who come to Iceland from other countries, for a short or long stay, have been prompted by various reasons.Most of them are seeking a better life, and many of them have experienced severe difficulties.We need to bear in mind that Icelanders have also been in a situation where they had to make new lives for themselves in a foreign country, far from their own culture, families, friends and practically everything that was dear to them.During the period from 1870-1914 some fifteen thousand Icelanders emigrated in search of a better life.Most of them were destitute.Some of them left children behind, hoping to send for them later - but in almost all cases this would prove impossible.Many people were getting on in years, and by no means certain of surviving the journey.The hope of a brighter future was strong, but the uncertainty was daunting.Svanborg Pétursdóttir from Skáleyjar was among those who emigrated to North America during these years.She wrote in a verse:
I wonder, when the end draws nigh,
and the fates reveal what’s in store,
whether my ship will make land
and find shelter on an unknown shore.
I have said that as Icelanders, we have good reason to be proud of our nation.To be an Icelander is definitely very special.And of course I respect traditional and solid Icelandic values.But if patriotism becomes an obstacle for positive progress, then it is time we stopped and took a look at just where we are headed, both for our own sake and for the future of our descendants.These sentiments can pose a danger to the larger interests of the country.
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In concluding I would like to thank the University Centre of the West Fjords and the Multicultural Centre for the opportunity to speak here today and for organising this interesting and thought-provoking conference on immigration and the reception of immigrants in rural areas.