A proposed new integration support for immigrants in Finland is receiving extensive criticism during its consultation phase for being discriminatory and unrealistic.
The Finnish government is facing significant backlash over its proposed new integration support for immigrants, which aims to replace existing general support for those who have lived in Finland for less than three years in the past ten years. Critics, including multiple stakeholders who have provided feedback, argue that the draft law violates constitutional provisions regarding equal treatment and the right to adequate subsistence. These concerns revolve around Articles 6 and 19 of the Finnish Constitution, which safeguard equality and entitlement to necessary living conditions for all individuals.
The government's plan involves providing this new integration support to unemployed migrants, with the possibility of transitioning to general support if they meet work-related conditions or demonstrate sufficient proficiency in the Finnish language. This adjustment comes as part of a broader overhaul aimed at replacing current employment support and basic unemployment benefits with a new general support system, which is expected to unify various social security benefits in the long run.
The criticism highlights significant legal and ethical challenges as the government seeks to reform how it supports immigrants, particularly at a time when immigration policies are under intense scrutiny across Europe. The implications of this criticism may lead to a reevaluation of the proposed measures to ensure they align with Finnish constitutional rights and international standards on human rights and equality.
