Jobless immigrants urged to leave Norway

OSLO, Norway, Jan. 23 (UPI) -- Norway's labor minister says unemployed immigrants should go home rather than stay in the country.

Hanne Bjurstrom told the newspaper Bergens Tidende that while Norway is "part of the free, European labor market" and "people can travel freely and apply for jobs," Norway has no further obligations to the employment-seekers, who he said should return home rather than remain in the country.

Bjurstrom's comments were reported in the Norway Post newspaper Monday. Labor immigration from economically depressed areas of southern Europe to Norway is on the rise.