Last week, news was able to report that the Directorate of Integration and Diversity (IMDi) is freezing state support for the organization Bydelsmødre. The organization targets the immigrant population and annually receives NOK one million in support from the state, in addition to around NOK three million from Oslo municipality. The background for IMDi’s decision is that there have been several serious warnings about improper operation of the organisation. Over time, news has had contact with several former employees of Bydelsmødre Norge. These are people who have held key positions and know the organization well. Both the general manager and the chairman of the board The employees, whom news has spoken to, have worked in the organization at various times, some of them quite recently. They tell of what they perceive to be an irresponsibly run organisation, where they claim that the management bullies, backbites and lacks understanding of how to run a democratic organisation. OUTRAGED: Ine M. Andersen previously worked at Bydelsmødre Norge. She is upset that the notices she and several colleagues were behind did not lead to major changes. Photo: Martin Fønnebø / news – It is about, among other things, harassment and retaliation when reporting, says Ine M. Andersen. She worked in the organization from 2019 to the end of 2020. For a period of time she was a safety representative and had good knowledge of how her colleagues felt at work. In retrospect, Andersen has followed developments in the organization through reports in the media. Now she chooses to come forward with her story, as she feels that little has changed. – When we worked there, we reacted to the organizational model and the management’s understanding of roles, says Andersen. She refers to how the organisation’s leader, Nasreen Begum, was at the time both general manager and chairman of the board, with all decision-making power and sole responsibility for staff, finances and day-to-day operations. The management at Bydelsmødre has not responded to these allegations, but replies that they do not recognize several of the allegations made against them in this case. Bydelsmødre Norway umbrella organization consisting of the local associations non-profit organization based on voluntary work helps women with minority backgrounds to take part in Norwegian society established in 2016 general manager is Nasreen Begum Begum was also chairman of the board until March 2022 receives one million kroner above the state budget receives about team of three million from Oslo municipality district mothers are made up of volunteer women, primarily with an ethnic minority background, district mothers have gone through a training program on topics such as family, health and society Employees’ own children In working on this case, news has spoken to seven former employees. They have all, to news, expressed frustration over similar conditions at the workplace. – When I worked there, I knew that three of Begum’s children were on the payroll. We spoke to her about how it was challenging in terms of integrity and reputation, and that it was important that those who were employed in the organization were employed on the basis of competence, and not on the basis of family ties, says Andersen. Andersen believes the children did not have the right skills to step into various roles in the organisation. She particularly reacted to the appointment of Nasreen’s daughter as assistant manager. – She was hired without any discussion with the board or employees beforehand. The decision was made at the kitchen table, and we received information about it via social media. She then had no leadership skills, says the former protection commissioner. Notified Oslo municipality and IMDi According to Andersen, the serious conditions at the operation were raised with Begum. But when that did not lead to progress, Andersen and several employees reported the situation to the Welfare Agency. A similar notification was also sent to IMDi. news has gained access to the notifications. There are also allegations of the use of illegal temporary contracts. – It became such a burdensome working environment that we all quit or were on sick leave, says Andersen. Manager: We do not recognize Nasreen Begum and her daughter, who is employed as an assistant manager, have been presented with the allegations leveled against them in this case. So is the current chairman. Begum does not want to be interviewed, but replies in writing that they recognize employees’ right to report in their own reporting channel. – However, we do not recognize ourselves in the conditions that employees and former employees describe to the media, but for which no notification has been submitted. We take the situation just as seriously and have implemented a number of measures to establish an appropriate management model and organizational culture. Begum also writes that they do not want to discuss disagreements with certain employees in the media, among other things for reasons of an ongoing personnel matter. She does not want to comment on the individual allegations, which news has submitted to her, but refers to the Norwegian Labor Inspection Authority, which in a report recently stated that several of the violations have been sorted out. RECOGNITION: In 2021, Nasreen Begum was awarded the St. Hallvard medal by Oslo Mayor Marianne Borgen. The medal was awarded for her work for the integration of women from minority backgrounds. Photo: Sturlason AS Polyfoto / Sturlason Acknowledgment Nasreen Begum came to Norway from Pakistan in 1996. During the first few years she had four children, and later she had two more. In an earlier interview with Aftenposten, Begum described a lack of trust in society, and that everyday life as a stay-at-home in Norway was characterized by isolation and loneliness. In collaboration with the Red Cross, she started City Mothers Norway in 2016, inspired by a similar concept in Denmark. The idea is to train volunteers who will help women with minority backgrounds. Among other things, they will help them adapt to Norwegian society and “Norwegian everyday life”. Begum has garnered much public praise and recognition for her work, and last year was awarded the St. Hallvard medal for her efforts. She has also been nominated for Oslo Citizen of the Year. – The problem is the operation Former news employees have spoken to Roser Begum for her efforts in getting the initiative started, and not least the many volunteers who contribute in the local community. The problem, they claim, is that the organization is not run in accordance with what should be expected in a Norwegian working life. Another former employee, who worked in the organization until this summer, and who was hired after Andersen left, recognizes the everyday working life Andersen describes. The former employee talks about his experiences in a meeting with Andersen, which news has arranged. The two have not met before. Despite the notifications and the Welfare Agency’s follow-up of the organisation, she believes it is just as bad, if not worse in some areas. – There was an obvious expectation to work beyond working hours, including on weekends and holidays and public holidays, without being paid. In addition, I was asked to assist with private tasks such as purchasing clothes. THE END: Ine Andersen meets an employee who left this summer. Both are concerned about how Bydelsmødre Norge is run. and management’s behavior towards employees Photo: Martin Fønnebø / news Had to check a sales report She says that she was also asked to check a sales report in connection with Begum’s purchase of a private home in 2021. – She wanted me to check whether there was a basis for compensation when she discovered potential defects in the home, says the woman, who is a qualified lawyer. Why didn’t you just say no? – When you are employed on a temporary contract, you are in a very vulnerable position. Then you really have no option to say no, she says. The woman says she raised the widespread use of temporary contracts with Begum. She pointed out several times that her own contract and the contracts of others who were employed in the spring of 2021 were not in accordance with the requirements of Norwegian working life. They only got permanent contracts towards the end of April 2022, according to the anonymous woman. – Then we had worked on illegal temporary contracts for a whole year, and without contracts for four months, says the woman. The management at Bydelsmødre has been given the opportunity to comment on this information, but has not responded directly to this. New alerts Documents news has gained access to show frustration among employees over working conditions over time. In May 2022, the Welfare Agency received another notification about the working conditions. In the same period, the Norwegian Labor Inspection Authority was involved and at the beginning of June the Norwegian Labor Inspection Authority paid the organization a visit in Dronning Eufemias gate in Oslo. In the inspection, several deviations were found, and the Norwegian Labor Inspection Authority came up with six specific orders. Among other things, they issued orders for written confirmation of agreed overtime pay, and documentation showing that overtime pay is paid, as well as routines for how working hours are recorded. The organization has been given a deadline of October to close the orders from the Norwegian Labor Inspection Authority. Some of the orders have already been closed, according to a document from August. Oslo municipality: Takes the notifications seriously – We follow the process of closing orders and closely monitor the cooperation between management and employees, the Welfare Agency informs news. This applies, among other things, to compensation for overtime and registration of working hours, shows a document that news has obtained access to. In an e-mail to news, the Welfare Agency writes that they take the notifications seriously, and that they have followed up the organization closely since the first notification came to Oslo municipality in December 2020. They also write that they have asked for written reporting and documentation, and that they have already announced a new follow-up meeting with both employees and management in September. An important topic at this meeting is involvement and dialogue with employees in the work to improve the working environment. The welfare agency also states that the notifications they received in 2021 were particularly related to the organizational model and employment procedures. – Here Bodelsmødre has implemented changes as a result of the Welfare Agency’s follow-up, for example that the same person is not the general manager and chairman of the board, the agency writes in an e-mail to news. MEETING FOR THE FIRST TIME: Ine M. Andersen (th) and an employee who quit this summer, met a few days ago. Both experienced the time they worked for Bydelsmødre Norway as demanding, and react to how the organization was managed. Photo: Martin Fønnebø / news Anxiety The anonymous employee reacts strongly to the fact that, according to her, an organisation, which has been notified several times, has not managed to clean up, and that they are still receiving public support. She takes it to mean that the state and Oslo municipality, which help finance the organization with several million kroner, have a form of fear of touch. – Nasreen Begum is a woman with a minority background. She has apparently made an effort for Norwegian society. My opinion is that she has been put on a pedestal, and that no one dares to criticize her for fear of being called a racist, says the woman. Would it have been different if there had been ethnic Norwegians in the management? – Yes absolutely. They must have gone during the day, says the woman, who herself has a Pakistani family background. The welfare agency replies that follow-up of all organizations takes place regardless of the ethnicity of the management. – Needs new management Ine M. Andersen had hoped that conditions would improve after she gave notice in 2020. – But when I see what comes to light at news, and when I hear what current employees are experiencing, I choose to stand up and tell what we experienced. It is obvious that the measures that were initiated after our notification have not worked satisfactorily. What should happen to District Mothers Norway? – It is not up to me to decide, but the voluntary involvement of the district mothers is incredibly important for many women and families. I hope that they will continue to do so no matter what happens to the organization. Can the organization continue with the current management? – My experience was that the management did not have the ability or the will to make the changes that were needed. I therefore have little faith that they have what it takes to run the organization in an orderly and sound manner in the future, says Andersen. Both the Welfare Agency and IMDi are investigating the notifications received earlier this year. The investigations are not yet complete. Hello, do you have any tips for us? Do you know more about this case, or are there other matters related to this topic that you think news should look at? 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