Advice and information
The integration.li advice center opened its doors in June 2024. It offers social counseling and individual welcome talks in various languages three days a week. The center also provides advice on topics such as residence, social insurance and employment. The advice center is managed jointly by the Mintegra Foundation and infra in accordance with the service agreement with the Office for Social Services. The VMR already called for such an office when the integration strategy was being drawn up, and the resident population concerned also called for it at the 2022 Integration Dialogue. The VMR therefore very much welcomes the fact that the advice center has now started its work. At the same time, the integration.li information platform was revised, expanded and translated into several languages.
In the reporting year, the integration.li advice centre organized its first round table on integration advice in September. The aim of the event was to discuss topics such as migration, permits, work and social insurance, as well as the further development of advice for immigrants in Liechtenstein. The aim is to strengthen the integration advice network, better coordinate services and address concerns.
On the government side, the Equal Opportunities Department of the Office for Social Services promotes integration projects and carries out public relations work. It also supports the integration services offered by the Mintegra specialist office in Buchs and the information and advice center for women (infra). Since 2022, the private association "SKS Integrationshilfe" has been advising and supporting refugees and people seeking protection in Liechtenstein with integration in the areas of social affairs, education, work, language, law, religion, culture, leisure and everyday life.
With the introduction of the integration.li advice center and the increased coordination of integration advice, the government has reached a milestone in the implementation of the integration strategy. This has also implemented an urgent recommendation from the latest report by the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI). However, integration takes place primarily in the municipalities. Although the advice center offers welcome talks for the municipalities, the municipal administrations should also provide information and advice services as contact points.
