Reform Proposal Non-European Student Work Permits

The‬‭ Icelandic‬‭ government,‬‭ and‬‭ in‬‭ particular‬‭ the‬‭ Minister‬‭ of‬‭ Justice,‬‭ Mrs.‬‭ Guðrún‬‭ Hafsteinsdóttir‬‭ and‬‭ the‬‭ Minister‬‭ of‬‭ Social‬‭ Affairs‬‭ and‬‭ the‬‭ Labour‬‭ Market,‬‭ Mr.‬‭ Guðmundur‬‭ Ingi‬‭ Guðbrandsson,‬‭ are‬‭ encouraged‬‭ to‬‭ review‬‭ the‬‭ legislation‬‭ surrounding work permits for students from outside of the European Economic Area.‬‭ The‬‭ right‬‭ to‬‭ work‬‭ should‬‭ automatically‬‭ be‬‭ granted‬‭ alongside‬‭ student‬‭ residence‬‭ permits.‬‭ This‬‭ would‬‭ vastly‬‭ improve‬‭ the‬‭ quality‬‭ of‬‭ life‬‭ of‬‭ these‬‭ students,‬‭ reduce‬‭ the‬‭ workload‬‭ of‬‭ the‬‭ Directorate‬‭ of‬‭ Immigration‬‭ and‬‭ the‬‭ Directorate‬‭ of‬‭ Labour,‬‭ contribute‬‭ to the Icelandic economy and ensure cohesion with other European countries.‬‭ This‬‭ suggestion‬‭ along‬‭ with‬‭ the‬‭ other‬‭ reform‬‭ recommendations‬‭ below‬‭ are‬‭ explained‬‭ in‬‭ depth in this proposal.‬‭