The implication of the new Finnish immigration policy on diversity, inclusion, and equality.

Immigration is a hot subject in Finland. Despite their contributions to growth and diversity, immigrants are often unseen. Many struggle to find their place in society, even after many years in Finland. The new government of Finland published a new immigration policy. Some parts of the policy sent a shock wave in the immigrant community, resulting in protests against the policy in some parts of Finland. The policy will impact Finland's diversity and competitiveness to attract international skills. Uncontrolled immigration is a challenge to any country, but when done right, it can contribute to economic growth and deepen diversity. What could the new policy mean for diversity, inclusion, and equality in Finland?

Although there are some positives in the immigration policy, such as the increasing penalty for employee exploitation, the monitoring mechanisms to protect immigrant workers in some businesses, the replacement of income support with integration support for immigrants to promote integration, and moving integration programs from the central government to the municipal level, some negative elements have caused concern. These include separating social security numbers and benefits between refugees and permanent residents, creating inequality that may further marginalize certain groups impacting inclusion and equality. Additionally, the three months to find new employment or face deportation when an immigrant with a work permit has lost a job, and reducing the time of international protection permits to the smallest by EU law, go against the government's approach to providing long-term integration support and stability for refugees. Moreover, restricted access to services for illegal residents may leave vulnerable individuals without social and health support. These elements in the policy will deepen discrimination against immigrants, and the gains achieved in diversity and inclusion in Finland will suffer a setback. It will create a distinction between immigrants, leading to different classes of immigrants.

In defense of the policy, a minister stated that Finland's policies towards immigrants are the most moderate among Nordic countries. She said Sweden's immigration policy has failed and emphasized the need to ensure economic and security stability in Finland. However, using Sweden or any other Nordic country as a yardstick to make Finland's immigration policy a disaster that Finland might not recover from. Why? At a time when Finland is making laws to limit immigration, big economies like Canada and Germany are pushing to change their immigration laws to attract international skills. For example, Germany passed a law to make it easier to migrate to Germany as a qualified migrant, introducing an "opportunity card" that allows all foreigners who have yet to secure employment to stay in Germany for a year to find a job. Canada made it easier to change to a work permit even while visiting. Finland's competitiveness compared to these countries is less. Other Nordic countries have built robust systems to attract international skills longer than Finland.

According to Statistics Finland, the number of foreigners in Finland has grown from about 50,000 in 1991 to about 500,000 in 2021. The economy of Finland will need the labor force of many immigrants in the future.

Immigrants play an important role in the growth of the Finnish economy. In recent years, they have made big contributions to the startup ecosystem, and more immigrants are trying to be entrepreneurs in Finland. The result is a more diverse entrepreneurial landscape compared to two decades ago. However, the new immigration policy will slow international skills attraction to Finland, and skilled immigrants might seek better prospects in other countries if they cannot find their place in Finland.

To understand the impact of brain drain on Finland's diversity and growth, let's explore the experiences of two immigrants, Sam and his wife (names changed). They moved to Finland to pursue engineering degrees and lived in Finland for eight years. Despite their qualifications, they struggled to find suitable employment and decided to move to the UK. Sam secured a job in telecommunications, while his wife works in a bank. Both have progressed in their careers and contribute to their local community. Looking back, they consider their move away from Finland as a positive decision. There is an economic loss and brain drain due to the departure of these talented individuals.

It is important to use skilled immigrants already integrated into the Finnish system. The training and development of unskilled immigrant workers who are already in the country will help Finland. Instead of focusing on fresh international hires from some countries, Finland should consider implementing policies that ease the transition of immigrants in the system from inexperienced to skilled professionals. By recognizing and growing the potential within the immigrant population, the country can promote diversity and economic growth. Not only does the government have the task of making policy frameworks that improves diversity, but it should also help organizations integrate more immigrants into their workforce. The implementation of that policy is a boost to growth and increases diversity. If the government pushes hard on immigration, organizations will not have the incentives to hire more immigrants. A strategy of using more immigrants in the workforce builds an intercultural workforce and promotes diversity, inclusion, and equality.

Some recommendations can help address the concerns and promote diversity and inclusion:

1. Increase support programs for immigrants, including diversity, equality, and inclusion training and intercultural orientation programs. Such training can ease integration and help immigrants transition into skilled roles within the workforce.
2. Work with educational institutions to offer programs and resources to support the educational and career aspirations of immigrant students.
3. Encourage collaboration between organizations and government agencies to create internship and apprenticeship programs designed for immigrants. This collaboration can provide practical work experience, bridge the skills gap, and help immigrants gain experience.
4. Encourage organizations to develop and put in place diversity and inclusion policies that promote the advancement of immigrants. This can be achieved through targeted recruitment strategies, mentoring programs, and diversity training for employees.
5. Simplify the process for recognizing and validating the qualifications and credentials of immigrant professionals. This will enable them to access the job market and contribute their skills and expertise to the Finnish workforce.
6. Launch public awareness campaigns to highlight the positive contributions of immigrants to Finland. This can help dispel misconceptions.
7. Address and combat discrimination faced by immigrants in employment and other areas. This can be achieved through strict enforcement of anti-discrimination laws and promoting diversity training, as well as monitoring and enforcing immigration crimes.
8. Foster partnerships and initiatives that promote immigrant integration and exchange best practices. Learning from experiences in other countries can inform policy improvements and implementation strategies.

Policymakers should harness the potential of immigrant talent. The economy can grow through diversity building. The harmful elements of the policy are a setback for immigrants. By implementing these recommendations, Finland can strive to create a more inclusive society. By tapping into the potential of immigrant talent and creating an inclusive environment, Finland can build a stronger economy and a more diverse society. Policymakers need to engage with immigrants as this will help them understand their needs and work towards implementing inclusive policies. Finland can continue to build on the progress made so far.