Currently about 28,000 foreigners are searching for work in Finland. According to the Ministry of Labour, unemployment has decreased slightly over the past six years, but immigrants still have a much more difficult time finding jobs than native Finns.
Asylum seekers and women face the most obstacles when looking for work, while citizens from other EU member states have an easier time getting employed.
"It is basically harder to get a job if some one looks different, has a different name or doesn’t speak Finnish perfectly. I think it is important that companies speak about these matters because the attitudes of companies affect other companies more than political speech," according to Green Member of Parliament Anni Sinnemäki.
At the seminar organised by the Greens, companies like the Finnish Post and Akeryards, which both have foreigners on the payroll, said they are eager to employ even more immigrants in the future.
"We heard employers tell about the practical needs and realities when they employ many immigrant workers. They discussed difficulties with work permits, how to manage different diets and religions, and how to uproot racism at work," said Sinnemäki.
A policy paper on immigration recently approved by the government could also help immigrants searching for a job. The paper includes plans to increase Finnish language instruction for foreigners and help them find work, particularly in fields with labour shortages.
YLE24
