Iceland review - 2014, Page 25

ICELAND REVIEW 23
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as less educated, Juan, who is writing
his Master’s thesis in human resources
on the human capital of immigrants
in iceland, hopes to highlight the new
skills and perspectives which immi-
grants bring to the workforce. “More
and more people are becoming aware
that people that come from other
countries may have other competences
and other intelligences that can be
very positive for the icelandic frame of
mind,” he explains. Juan also says that
reykjavík’s increasingly cosmopolitan
nature means he gets to hone his lan-
guage skills, something which he says
he wouldn’t have had the chance to do
in Colombia. “Personally, i love the
opportunity and challenge of being
able to speak three languages every
day. i speak icelandic, english and
Spanish every single day. i feel that
really helps expand your mind.”
Barbara Jean Kristvinsson, an immi-
grant counselor at the Human rights
office, agrees that foreigners have
contributed to icelandic society in various ways includ-
ing in advancements in music teaching, as well as
sporting successes and its food culture. Despite this,
Barbara, originally from the U.S., feels there isn’t enough
equal participation among immigrants. “We need more
immigrants in better positions instead of just cleaning
floors and taking care of children and old people. We
need immigrants in management.” Her colleague at the
Human rights office, edda Ólafsdóttir, an expert on
immigrant issues, echoes Barbara’s view that more needs
to be done. “We need to consider ways in which we can
inspire greater social inclusion,” she says.
also from the U.S., Paul Fontaine, who moved to
iceland in 1999 and works as a journalist at The Reykjavík
Grapevine, as well as a representative of a labor union,
argues that immigrants are having an impact in the
workplace. “immigrants are starting to have spheres of
influence in the industries in which they work, possibly
by bringing in new ideas, new modes of work and new
modes of organization.”
There have also been more foreigners entering poli-
tics, Claudie says. “There were several immigrants who
ran in the last municipal elections in reykjavík. i see
that as a really positive thing. i also feel that they are
influencing their parties’ mandates with more emphasis