Finnish labour market organisations join forces to promote good ethnic relations in the workplace

(Helsinki 27.03.2006 - Juhani Artto) The major labour market parties in Finland have approved a common strategy on immigrant labour. They agree on the appraisal that more foreign labour is needed in the Finnish labour market. The organisations stress that foreign labour is needed to complement the Finnish labour force, not replace it.

By 2030, the working age population will decrease by 300,000 people in Finland. Economic growth, vital for welfare, threatens to slow down unless more labour arrives from abroad. This remains true even if unemployed Finns and immigrants, already now in Finland, were to be effectively employed.

Until now, the amount of work-related immigration to Finland has remained small. But temporary and fixed-term migrant workers, from nearby regions, has increased. Annually about 30,000 foreigners come to Finland for short or longer periods of work.

Labour market parties points out that employers must follow Finnish legislation and collective agreements and, when it comes to working life, immigrant labour must enjoy equal status. To promote this principle and further good ethnic relations, the central labour market organisations will jointly engage in an information and educational project. The project, targeting superiors and elected officials, will begin in autumn 2006.

This article was first published in English in Trade Union News in Finland.