News

Moniheli and DIAK are organising the now traditional integration-themed pitching contest as part of Integration 2024. This year, the contest will focus on ideas or activities that promote integration in a context of diminishing resources.

The number of minority languages in which Yle Uutiset offers news will increase in September. The news published in Arabic and Somali is an experiment that will last slightly less than a year. During the coronavirus pandemic, Yle also published news in both languages.

Registration for Integration 2024 is open. The event is held on November 14-15 at Logomo in Turku. Join us to hear about the latest research, meet partners and learn about best practices! Register for the event before October 16 2024.

An experiment based on a new type of agreement model had a positive long-term impact on the employment, confirmed income and the amount of taxes paid by immigrants participating in the experiment. According to the interviews conducted in connection with a recent evaluation, the close contacts between employers and employment-promoting services were particularly useful.

What subjects are current in the field of integration? Integration 2024 offers a chance to dive into current themes in immigrant integration and refugee reception and network with other actors. Read more about the programme schedule before registration. The registration will open on Monday September 9.

The Government’s action plan published in June includes 30 actions that support the employment of Ukrainians. Communication in Ukrainians’ native language is increased and their transition to municipalities is supported. The action plan is now also available in English for example EU-level comparison and other research.

There were 49,543 unemployed foreign jobseekers in Finland at the end of July. This is the highest number of unemployed foreign jobseekers ever recorded. In addition to the lacklustre economy, the increase in foreign labour explains this growth.

In June, there were 46,709 unemployed foreign jobseekers, which accounts for 16 per cent of all unemployed jobseekers. The number of first integration plans fell from the first quarter of 2024. This drop may be due to seasonal variation as, of all quarters, the least number of first integration plans are usually drawn up in the second quarter of the year.

The Centre of Expertise in Immigrant Integration of the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment conducts a survey to examine the views of the Partnership Platform users concerning the use and usefulness of the Platform and the need for it in future. The responses will be used in the development of the Partnership Platform and the kotoutuminen.fi online service as well as in the planning and development of communications and online communications for those involved in integration in 2024–2025.

From the beginning of next year, the payment periods for reimbursement of social assistance costs under the Integration Act would be shortened from three years to one. The amendments to the Act on the Promotion of Immigrant Integration would enter into force on 1 January 2025. The proposed amendment is being circulated for comments until 9 August.

In May, the number of unemployed foreign jobseekers totalled 41,510, which is 16 per cent of all unemployed jobseekers. The increase in the number of foreign unemployed jobseekers can be explained by the general growth in the number of foreigners in Finland.

The new Integration Act, which will enter into force at the beginning of next year, will be supplemented by five decrees pertaining to multilingual civic orientation, the amount of imputed reimbursement and its distribution, and the assessment of skills and service needs related to integration. In addition, decrees would be issued on the fee payable to the representative of a child or young person who has arrived in the country as an unaccompanied minor and on the information to be stored in the national integration data repository.

The comprehensive reform of the Act on the Promotion of Immigrant Integration (Integration Act) will enter into force at the beginning of 2025 when the main responsibility for integration will be transferred from the state to municipalities. The purpose of the amendments is to increase immigrants’ own responsibility for their integration. The amendments to the Act were approved on 13 June 2024 and they will mainly enter into force on 1 January 2025.

In future, an employee working in Finland with a work-based residence permit would have three months to find a new job if the employment relationship ends. The conditions for residence would lapse and the employee would have to leave Finland if no new employment is found and there are no other grounds for residence. The government proposal on the three-month unemployment rule is in public consultation between 12 June and 16 August 2024.

Net migration will remain high in the coming years, according to the latest short-term Labour Market Forecast. This is reflected in the number of unemployed jobseekers. Since the growth in the number of people of working age largely depends on immigration, the number of unemployed foreign jobseekers is expected to continue to grow.

In the first quarter of 2024, more than 5,400 first integration plans were drawn up, which is a record since the measurement began. The employment rate of foreigners has continued to fall due to the downturn. The employment rate of foreigners is more cyclically sensitive than that of Finnish citizens.

Do you or your organization have a good practice of integration or reception of refugees to share with others? Do you want to tell potential partners about your integration-promoting activities? Participate in the Integration 2024 event as an exhibitor. Integration 2024 will take place on 14–15 November 2024 in Turku.

The new Integration Act will enter into force on 1 January 2025, when the main responsibility for integration will be transferred to municipalities. On 4 April 2024, the Government submitted to Parliament a proposal based on the Government Programme for amendments to the new Integration Act and related acts (reform of the Act on the Promotion of Immigrant Integration, KOTO24). According to the proposed amendment, the imputed reimbursement period for municipalities and wellbeing services counties would be shortened.

The Integration 2024 event is searching for a photo exhibition dealing with integration or the reception of refugees or a theme closely related to these topics through an open call. The photo exhibition application is open from 3 to 21 April 2024.

The Centre of Expertise in Immigrant Integration supports the implementation of the revised Integration Act (Act on the Promotion of Immigrant Integration) and work to promote integration by producing materials and information on the comprehensive reform of the Act. A new home page KOTO24 has been set up on the integration.fi website. On the site, you can find news, events and materials related to the comprehensive reform of the Integration Act. During 2024, the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment will provide nationwide support for those involved in integration work in preparing for the reform in cooperation with the KEHA Centre and the Association of Finnish Local and Regional Authorities.