Under the Integration Act, the target group for integration plans and assessments of skills and the need for integration services is the same. An integration plan is prepared when based on the assessment of skills and the need for integration services, the immigrant is determined to be in need of an integration plan in order to promote integration.
The integration plan for immigrants who are registered as unemployed jobseekers is prepared by the employment authority.
The municipality prepares the integration plan for:
- persons referred to in section 2, subsection 3 or 4 of the Integration Act, i.e. beneficiaries of international protection and their family members;
- persons receiving social assistance on a non-temporary basis;
- persons receiving child home care allowance;
- immigrants who entered Finland as unaccompanied minors;
- victims of human trafficking;
- other immigrants.
The integration plan shall be prepared no later than within three years of the issuance of the first residence permit or residence card or registration of right of residence. In respect of victims of human trafficking, the time limit may be derogated from when they can be reached to be given access to integration-promoting services only after the expiration of the time limit.
In assessing the need to prepare an integration plan, account shall be taken of the immigrant’s individual circumstances, the objectives for integration and employment or entrepreneurship, and service needs. The reason for being in the country, for example, should have no direct contribution to not preparing an integration plan. The immigrant’s genuine need for and benefit from the plan as well as their potential for committing to and taking part in the measures agreed in the plan are taken into account when assessing whether the plan is needed as well as the measures to be agreed.
Preparing an integration plan for immigrants’ stay-at-home spouses, for example, supports their transition into education and training or employment. Parents receiving child home care allowance, for example, may take part in integration services and other measures promoting integration on a part-time basis, which may be agreed in the integration plan. On the other hand, the benefits of preparing an integration plan must be weighed carefully in respect of immigrants who only intend to stay in Finland for a short while.
Integration plan or employment plan?
Jobseeker immigrants who are subject to the Integration Act may alternatively, in certain situations, be prepared an employment plan under the Act on the Organisation of Employment Services. From the viewpoint of the person concerned, an employment plan instead of an integration plan may be justified when, for example, they are starting self-motivated studies subsidised with unemployment benefit at the stage when the term of the integration plan is expiring.
In terms of the services and measures included in the plan, it makes little difference whether the plan is prepared under the Integration Act or the Act on the Organisation of Employment Services. Plans under the latter are based on the jobseeker’s objectives in jobseeking and employment and their assessed need for services.
A jobseeking obligation as well as other measures related to jobseeking or development of business activities are included in the employment plan. When necessary, the plan shall also include public employment services consistent with the jobseeker’s service needs along with other services to enhance competencies, labour market skills and capacity to function and work, or measures relating to jobseeking or development of business activities as well as examination of health status and capacity to function and work that impact on employment.
An employment plan under the Act on the Organisation of Employment Services is also prepared for jobseeker immigrants who are no longer entitled to an integration plan.
Further information:
- Job Market Finland
- Act on the Organisation of Employment Services
- Assessment of skills and the need for integration services
