Critics of the government’s proposal say cuts to social security will increase poverty among immigrant communities and lead to further marginalization
Prime Minister Petteri Orpo‘s (NCP) right-wing coalition has emphasized the importance of integrating immigrants into Finnish society in its program for government, with a particular focus on raising employment rates among foreigners.
With this objective in mind, the government has drafted plans to introduce a separate social security system for newcomers arriving into the country aimed at incentivizing them to find work as soon as possible.
The benefits and social security on offer to newly-arrived immigrants would be different from those provided to people who have lived in Finland for a longer period of time. A similar policy has been rolled out in Denmark, where a person must live in the country for at least eight years to be entitled to the full range of social security benefits.
This may be the case in Finland too, if the government’s plans come to fruition.
