Pasi Saukkonen, City of Helsinki / University of Helsinki: Integration Policy Development in Northern Europe: Divergence or Convergence
Policies relating to immigrant integration started to get shape in the 1980s and 1990s in several northern European countries. Since then, there have been minor and major differences between different countries, initially some of them emphasizing a more assimilationist, others a more multiculturalist approach. Later, many authors have documented a certain convergence towards what has been called civic integration. Political changes have also produced more or less long-lasting changes to national integration policies. In Denmark and Norway, right-wing neo-nationalist populism influenced government policy already in the early 2000s, whereas similar development has taken place in Sweden, Finland and the Netherlands only later. How does the situation look like at the moment in these five countries? In my paper, I will first make a systematic comparative analysis of the development of national integration policies using available research literature. In the second part, I will take a closer look at the more recent development, using national legislation, government programs and integration programs as main sources. In addition to a general comparison, I will particularly focus on the influence of right-wing neo-nationalist populism to integration policies, whether from the inside or from the outside of government.
Suvi Karhu, Tampere University: Between restriction and protection: ambiguous goals and implementation of Finnish work permit system
The number of work permits is increasing in Finland and the increase has come mainly from lowskilled labour. In this paper, I examine how low-skilled labour immigration from outside the EU is restricted in Finland, how the restrictions have been justified and how the justifications have changed during the current Aliens Act. Before granting a work permit, authorities determine whether the vacancy could be filled by a local workforce. Labour market test is not needed, if regional authorities have assessed that there is a shortage of labour at the sector. Defining the availability of low-skilled labour is politically contested, and the authorities have a lot of discretion in assessing whether the foreign labour is needed. The assessments vary regionally, but in general the labour market is less regulated than before.
As the importance of the labour market test has decreased, the focus of the work permit system has shifted to controlling of the working conditions. The aim is to prevent the exploitation of foreign labour, but the consequences can also be the opposite: the only tool available to authorities, is to limit the work permits of the foreign workers. According to previous studies, uncertainty and precarious legal status can lead to foreign workers becoming an exploitable workforce. Using policy documents as material, my aim is to examine the institutional change and the gaps between the legislation and implementation. Research is needed, because the goals of labour immigration have changed and the work permit system must be reformed, but there is no previous study about how the current system has performed.
Aurora Nisso, University of Turku: Development of the Finnish Integration Policy
In this paper I provide a brief overview of the integration policy in Finland. I examine its development from a historical perspective to both understand and question the paths which have led Finnish integration policy to its current state. The period I focus on spans from 1999 to 2023. Finnish integration laws were legislated during this period: the first law in 1999, the second 2010 and the third 2023. I point out similarities and differences that can be seen in the government bills regarding these three integration laws. The latest law will enter into force for the most part at the beginning of 2025. This means we are discussing an issue that is evolving as we speak. My aim is to foster a discussion where it is possible to combine different approaches and perspectives so that we can better understand the wide ranging effects of the ongoing changes in the field of integration in Finland.
Nina Carlsson, Migration Institute of Finland / Uppsala University: Citizenship as a gift, not a right: Policy shifts in citizenship and permanent residency in the Nordics
Nordic countries have for the past years undergone a restric-ve membership policy shift, with both foreseen and already implemented restrictions to entry, residency and citizenship. Denmark has been characterized as the frontrunner of this trend, imposing strict requirements for income, language skills, cultural knowledge and residency for permanent residency and citizenship. Sweden and Finland are in the process of introducing stricter requirements, in part inspired by Denmark. With a starting point in semi-structured interviews with policy implementers, permanent residency and citizenship applicants in Denmark, this presentation discusses the implications of imposing strenuous requirement for membership. It also discusses the Danish findings in relation to the ongoing Finnish and Swedish legislative processes in the field of permanent residency and citizenship.
