The Government Programme states that the primary means of integration into Finnish society is “the rapid entry of immigrants into the labour market.”
On 16 February, Helsingin Sanomat reported that Minister of Finance Riikka Purra is proposing a work obligation model for immigrants similar to the Danish system. In Denmark, such obligations operate alongside a strong and well-resourced integration and employment services framework. In Finland, however, the government has cut precisely those structures that would be needed to support the tightened integration requirements.
Few people choose to remain dependent on last-resort social assistance. A work obligation penalises those who face barriers to employment and who would need support from the system to improve their situation. As a result, the model risks creating only superficial employment, where people perform meaningless tasks and are compensated through social benefits instead of receiving proper wages.
The reform is proposed to apply solely to immigrants, who already face significant barriers to employment. This raises serious concerns about equality. Solutions must be designed to strengthen everyone’s opportunities to enter the labour market. If the model genuinely improves employment prospects, it should be applied to all.