If the proposal becomes law, a foreign student’s residence permit could be revoked if they receive basic social assistance, a last-resort form of financial support.
Finland’s government is pushing through legislation which would see newly-arrived immigrant jobseekers receive lower benefits than other unemployed people.
The new regulations will require applicants to have lived in Finland for longer, demonstrate some proficiency in Finnish or Swedish, and have a work history of a certain length.
“The general perception of immigrants as a burden on public finances is incorrect,” says one of the researchers. Foreign-language speakers account for about 10% of the population, but collect only about 5% of welfare benefits and other income transfers.
A new study finds that people who applied for asylum in Finland as a minor during the 2015 refugee crisis are integrating much better than those who did so as adults.
The latest changes mean that an applicant will be denied a Finnish passport if they have relied on social welfare benefits for more than three months over a two-year period.
Domestic media have reported on a new book exposing “modern slavery” in Finland, showing how some immigrants face unpaid work, long hours, and unfair conditions.