Finland needs skilled international labour. The economic capacity of our society needs to be strengthened. Education- and work-based immigration plays a key role in this process. However, the government’s policies will make life in Finland harder for people with a foreign background and reduce the attractiveness of Finland in the international labour market.
“EU countries with a large population, such as Germany, Italy and Poland, are all increasing work-based immigration. The global competition for labour is intensifying. Meanwhile, the government programme of Finland is geared towards making international recruitment more difficult, which will weaken the operating conditions of businesses at a particularly bad time,” says Ted Apter, Special Advisor in Industrial Policy at Suomen Ekonomit (the Finnish Business School Graduates).
The intended changes to labour legislation in the government programme, together with measures to tighten immigration policies, create a toxic combination. Facilitating dismissals, increasing the use of fixed-term employment contracts whilst making immigrants even more dependent on a single employer will weaken the appeal and retention of the Finnish labour market. In addition to this, various measures have been specifically designed to make work-based immigration more difficult in a number of ways. If these bills are passed, their combined effects could be devastating for equitable working life and the availability of labour.
“Immigration is not just about the people planning to come here, but also the hundreds of thousands of people already living here. The growth of the Finnish labour force in the 21st century has been based solely on the work contribution of immigrants. However, the issue is often discussed without including the immigrants themselves in the debate. This has got to change,” says Mikko Särelä, Expert for Industrial and Innovation Policy at TEK.
When drafting legislation, the government should hear from the international professionals who are already working in Finland. The conditions for work-based immigration should be improved – not weakened. At the very least, we should give up the already-decided policy of cancelling residence permits after three months of unemployment.
In a pamphlet produced by the Finnish Business School Graduates and TEK entitled “Suomi – ulkopuolisuuden maa? Finland – the country of not belonging?” fourteen writers with an international background describe their experiences. The unions have also added their own recommendations for politicians for developing Finland.
TEK is taking part in the “Muutostöissä” (“Change at Work”) campaign, led by social media influencers. The campaign is aimed at everyone in working life: an open attitude towards cultural diversity is the responsibility of everyone in the workplace.
