Labour Migration in Finland 16.11.2011 Senior Adviser Tarja Rantala Ministry of the Interior Migration Department In charge: 1) Labour migration 2) Repatriation of the Ingerian Finns from Russia 3) Foregin students in Finland, Finnish expatriates outside of Finland 22.4.2017

First some figures and statisitical information about Finland’s migration to give you a picture what am talking about We are small country with a population of 5.2 million. Isolated in North, huge neigbour with huge changing factors in their past and perhaps future too on the Eastern side and on the Western side peaceful Nordic states, which were extremely important to us during the Soviet times. They were the countries we wanted to associate with. Even though the membership in the European Union roll back the importance of Nordic co-operation, we in Finland follow carefully what is going on especially in Sweden However, for many years Finland was far behind the Nordic countries in many issues, not least in migration issues. Even though we were not members of the Soviet Union, its presence in our neighbour influenced a lot: We did not have natural movement across our Eastern and Southern boarders; it was strictly regulated and the boarders havardly even leaked. Finland had signed the UN convention of protecting the refugees but even the asylum seekers did not find us or more like were scared to come to Finland just because the closeness of Soviet Union. Finland has been traditionally and for years rather an emigration country than an immigration country. Finland recovered reasonably qickly of the second world war and paid every penny of reparations of the lost war to Soviet union but the unavoidable change in the economical structure from a rural society to a more urban one in 60ts cost us nearly a loss of milloin of the population. It was no longer possible to earn one’s living in the small farms especially in the Northern and Eastern parts of Finland. There was not enough job opportunities available in the cities and thus the Finns found their way to Sweden, which was doing well and of which econmy was thriving. See the huge peak in between the years 1968 - 1971 When we come to the the 80s, the situation levels off and from the year 1980 onwards the net immigration for Finland has turned postivie. Picture shows the average figures of OECD countries, Finland is hte red dashline. The unbroken blue line indicates the average of net immigration to all OECD countries and the blue dashline the migration trend in those OECD cvountries, which have been considered emigration countries. Quite often Finland is below that average as well. in OECD countries 22.4.2017

Number of foreign nationals in 2000 - 2010 167 954 155 705 143 256 132 708 121 700 108 400 107 100 113 900 103 700 98 600 91 100 After the 80s finland launched the reception of refugees on an annual base with the UN Refugee Agency and along the civil war in Somalia, first big flows of asylum seekers started to arrive to Finland. By the new millenium, the amount of foreign population had reached close to 100 000 individuals. Even though the number of foreign population in finland is not that high compared to many other European countries, what is significant, is that the growth of it has been rapid; on a first decade of the new millenium, the amount of foreign citizens permanently residing in the country, has almost doubled its size Source: Statistics Finland 22.4.2017

Migration in Finland 2006 - 2010 Immigration: 26 000/ year Net immigration: 13 500/ year This picture speaks for itself Top countries for Finns: Sweden, UK, USA Emigration: 12 500/ year Source: Statistics Finland 22.4.2017

Largest groups by citizenship Number of people in 2010 Proportion of foreign nationals % Year / year trend % Estonia 29 080 17.3 + 14.0 Russia 28 426 16.9 + 0.8 Sweden 8 510 5.1 0.0 Somalia 6 593 3.9 + 18.4 China 5 559 3.3 + 7.3 Iraq 5 024 3.0 + 26.3 Thailand 5 021 + 11.7 Turkey 3 973 2.4 + 4.3 Germany 3 715 2.2 + 2.4 India 3 468 2.1 + 9.5 Total of foreign nationals 167 954 100 + 7.9 As you can see, our neighbouring countries are in lead Somalia and Iraq are countries, from where our refugees come China, Thailand, Turkey and India are sort of newcomers, 3rd countries from where we have received labour power and students 22.4.2017 Source: Statistics Finland

Applications for residence permits in 2008, 2009 and 2010 Grounds for the application 2007 2008 2009 change % 2008/2009 Employment 6 412 6 848 3 953 -42 Self-employment 84 67 95 42 Finnish origin 576 486 697 43 Studies 4 013 4 832 4 653 -4 Other grounds *) 3 215 3 247 2 883 -11 Family ties 6 261 7 424 8 509 15 TOTAL 20 561 22 904 20 790 -9 Different types of residence permits by third country nationals during the past three years Employment and self-employment often Chinese and Turkish who come to work in Finland Finnish origin - mostly the Ingerians from Russia Also the students are often from China and Turkey, nowadays from Russia too In addition to these figures, every year 12 000 seasonal workers; forest and garden berries: Ukraine, Russia, Thailand *) In most cases employment: applications/decisions in this group concern persons who are entitled to take up employment on a basis other than a residence permit for an employed person. 22.4.2017

Finland’s new Government for 2011 - 2014 Finland's new Government was appointed in June 2011 The Conservative Party in lead formed a majority coalition with five other parties There are 19 ministers of which the Minister for Internal Affairs is in charge of immigration issues Ms Päivi Räsänen, Christian Democrats Integration issues of immigrants will be transferred from the Ministry of the Interior back to the Ministry of Employment and Economy in the beginning of 2012 “Government aims for an immigration policy, which supports building of an unprejudiced, safe and pluralistic Finland, and enhances Finland’s international competitiveness” 22.4.2017

Government’s policy guidelines for labour migration 2011- 2014 From the Government’s program: The Future of Immigration 2020 Strategy will be drafted The future needs of labour market will be assessed Aim to ensure managed labour market and equal rights for all employees in an open and increasingly international labour market The labour test will stay Supervision of the labour market will be improved Rules of recruitment from abroad will be amended sector by sector with the labour market parties (trade unions, employers’ federations and state) The recruitment of foreign workers must rest on an ethically sustainable foundation 22.4.2017

Previous Government’s policy guidelines for labour migration A strategic, long-term policy shall be engaged in to make Finland’s pull factors and the inherent opportunities to work, run a business and study in Finland better known Co-operation on labour migration shall be increased with other EU countries, neighbouring areas and other countries that are considered potentially significant sources of labour Simplification of the permit system for labour migration The entry of foreign students and researches to the labour market shall be facilitated Action plan on labour migration will be drafted 22.4.2017

Implementation of the Actions in years 2007 - 2011 Long-term strategy and an Action Plan on Labour Migration Mapping of pull factors How to study, work and run a business in Finland Increased co-operation with EU countries, neighbouring and other potential countries Simplification of the permit system for labour migration Better entry of foreign students and researchers for labour market Council of State approved the Action plan on a resolution level; 25 proposals Two reports were drafted MinEdu’s Internationalisation Strategy for Higher Education Institutions A detailed report was drafted; including recommended countries and actions Government Bill of a one phase permit system was drafted Lengthening of job seeking visa from 6 months to 10 months for graduated foreign students was proposed 22.4.2017

Comparison of the programs 2007 - 2011 Long-term strategy and an Action Plan on Labour Migration Mapping of pull factors How to study, work and run a business in Finland Increased co-operation with EU countries, neighbouring and other potential countries of labour source Simplification of the permit system for labour migration Better entry of foreign students and researchers for labour market 2011-2015 Strategy of immigration 2020; Action Plan merged into it Done; no implementation planned MinEdu’s stripped-down version of Strategy No specific countries mentioned; focus on European Union countries The current permit system of two phases will remain The current system of 6 months’ job seeking visa will remain 22.4.2017

What is new in the Government’s program? The future needs of labour market will be assessed Aim to ensure managed labour market and equal rights for all employees in an open and increasingly international labour market The labour test will stay Supervision of the labour market will be improved Rules of recruitment from abroad will be amended sector by sector with the labour market parties (trade unions, employers’ federations and state) The recruitment of foreign workers must rest on an ethically sustainable foundation 22.4.2017

Content of the Action Plan Short review of the present labour migration situation Other projects & programs taken into account: - European Social Fund programs - Reform on permit system of labour migrants - Publication: Co-operation with the countries of origin - Internationalization of the High Education Institutions - Reshaping of the adult education Action Plan is for the years 2009 - 2011 15 keystones 25 proposals for action No financial allocations 22.4.2017

Some examples of the keystones Labour migration is a supplementary element to the domestic labour power; it does not substitute it The Finnish prosperity will be built up on multiculturalism and equal opportunities in work life Recruitment from abroad ought to be based on liable and ethical guidelines and it ought to be demand-driven The permit system for labour migrants has to be simple and flexible but at the same time it has to be secured that the controlling mechanisms are sound 22.4.2017

Some examples of the proposed actions I Regional/ local authorities and actors draft together action plans how and from where to find labour power if the domestic sources are not adequate Ministry for Social Affairs and Health launches a project which aim is to find out how and from where to recruit health staff if needed Mechanisms to promote mobility within the European Union will be strengthened (EURES) Measures will be targeted especially at Finnish expatriates and health staff Strategy of the Finnish pull factors will be prepared and implemented and funded by the European Social Fund 22.4.2017

Some examples of the proposed actions II The local authorities ought to be better prepared to counsel newcomers Language training has to better organised and the share of its costs should be clarified and standardised Ministry of Education will develop inexpensive language training options When the Integration Act will be amended, more attention has to be paid to the integration measures of the labour migrants 22.4.2017

Implementation and follow-up of the Action Plan A steering group was set up to follow the implementation of the Action Plan Members are representing authorities and labour market parties Steering group will assess the timing of the proposed actions and follow implementation of the other programs which are included to the Action Plan A first interim report was drafted in 2010 and a final evaluation in 2012 22.4.2017