Under the Integration Act, an unemployed immigrant or an immigrant receiving social assistance on a non-temporary basis always has the right to an integration plan.
An integration plan may also be drawn up for other immigrants, such as students, employed persons or persons who look after their children at home if they are deemed to be in need of a plan promoting integration on the basis of the initial assessment.
When the need to draw up an integration plan is assessed, the immigrant’s individual situation, goals and need are taken into account. For example, the grounds for residence should not directly play a role in not drawing up an integration plan. The actual need and benefit for the immigrant and their actual possibilities to commit to and participate in the measures agreed on in the plan will be taken into account when the need for the plan and the measures to be agreed are assessed.
Drawing up an integration plan for a person who is at home or the spouse of an immigrant may support transition to education or training or to the world of work. On the other hand, the benefits of drawing up an integration plan must be evaluated if the immigrant’s residence in Finland is intended to be of a short duration.
An integration plan or an employment plan?
Alternatively, in some situations it is possible to draw up the employment plan referred to in the Act on Public Employment and Business Service for an immigrant who is within the scope of the Integration Act. Drawing it may be justified from the point of view of the person, for example, when they start self-motivated studies supported with unemployment benefit when the validity period of the integration plan is ending.
As for the services and measures included in the plan, the plan referred to in the Integration Act and the plan referred to in the Act on Public Employment and Business Service do not significantly differ from each other. The plan referred to in the Act on Public Employment and Business Service is based on the jobseeker’s goals regarding work or education and training, and the assessed need for services.
The plan lays down agreed jobseeking measures and their goals, public employment and business services in accordance with the jobseeker’s need for services and other services promoting employment, and expert assessments. When necessary, the plan lays down an agreement on other services enhancing competence, labour market skills, and functional capacity, or measures related to examining working ability or state of health. (Act on Public Employment and Business Service, chapter 2, section 7).
The employment plan referred to in the Act on Public Employment and Business Service is also drawn up for an immigrant who no longer has the right to an integration plan when its maximum validity period is ending.
Read more:
TE Office’s services for jobseekers
Act on Public Employment and Business Service
Initial assessment
