Norway proposes to let refugees make meals for school children

Norway's minister of migration and integration on Tuesday proposed letting refugees make school lunches to provide food for students, and work and language experience to refugees, local newspaper VG reported.

Sylvi Listhaug told VG that the proposal would encourage more schools to provide meals during both school hours and after-school childcare.

According to the proposal, only refugees granted an asylum residence permit in Norway would be considered.

Wages of around 180,000 Norwegian kroner (about 22,000 U.S. dollars) per year would be paid through the program.

The revised national budget, which will be presented on Wednesday, earmarks 4 million kroner (487,000 U.S. dollars) for the school canteen proposal, according to media reports.

The money would be used for food and training and both the municipalities and private schools could apply for the grant.

Ann-Magrit Austena, leader of the Norwegian Organization for Asylum Seekers (NOAS), welcomed the government's proposal, saying any work is better than sitting and waiting in a refugee camp.

"All the activities and vocational training give possibilities, both for learning Norwegian language and networking. It is especially important that asylum-seekers with children become quickly integrated and become a part of Norwegian society," she said. Endit