The Finnish government’s newly published policy programme for promoting employment-based immigration fails to answer a number of concrete questions, says Pasi Saukkonen, a senior researcher at the City of Helsinki Urban Facts.
The Finnish government’s newly published immigration policy programme is a frustrating read, states Pasi Saukkonen, a senior researcher specialising in immigration issues at the City of Helsinki Urban Facts.
“Those making decisions on immigration policy seem to lack the capacity when the discussion shifts to concrete needs, objectives and implementation,” he wrote in his blog on Monday.
“I am referring to questions such as in which direction should we look for foreign labour? How many and what kind of people do we need in Finland – and how soon? And what are the measures with which we can attract them here, temporarily or permanently?”
Finland, he reminded, has never been a significant destination for mobile foreign workers. He believes that if the country is truly intent on competing for skilled foreign workers, it would have to step up its communication, marketing and recruitment efforts abroad considerably.
“Our country has really only witnessed employment-based immigration on a wider scale from Estonia,” he said.
Aleksi Teivainen – HT Photo: Vesa Moilanen – Lehtikuva Source: Uusi Suomi
