In a recent interview with Helsingin Sanomat, Suvi-Anne Siimes, the outgoing CEO of the Finnish pension provider Telan, criticized the ease with which immigrants can receive pensions in Finland. She referenced Sweden’s approach where the minimum pension decreases if a person has lived there for less than 40 years, highlighting a disparity in the conditions set by different Nordic countries. Currently in Finland, while the national pension is reduced under similar circumstances, the guaranteed pension amount remains unaffected. This policy has led to a growing number of immigrants receiving guaranteed pensions—about one-third of the payments last year went to immigrants.

Siimes noted that the right to a guaranteed and national pension in Finland is established after three years of residency, with the maximum guaranteed pension capped at 990 euros per month. Her comments suggest that while cutting pensions might not yield significant immediate savings, adjusting the eligibility criteria could impact immigrants' decisions about when to move to Finland, specifically focusing on whether to immigrate at an older age or to come earlier to contribute to the pension system through work.

This discussion touches on broader themes of immigration policy and social welfare in Finland, suggesting that tighter regulation of pension benefits for immigrants may influence the demographic landscape and economic considerations of the country. Siimes, who is also a notable former leader of the Left Alliance party, emphasizes that the pension system needs to incentivize younger immigrants to work and earn a pension rather than relying solely on state benefits, highlighting the ongoing debate about immigration and social support policies in Finland.