Photo credit: The Kyiv Independent
Finnish Finance Minister Riikka Purra is proposing to abolish integration benefits which will save 317 million euros.
UNN reports that the abolition will mainly affect Ukrainian refugees who constitute the majority of aid recipients. the minister presented her budget for next year this week and it abolishes integration benefits paid to municipalities and social centres to support asylum seekers and refugees.
With the help of integration benefits, the state compensates municipalities for costs incurred by immigrant integration services. The most important of these services are language training and employment support. They also include training courses that introduce people to Finnish society and customs.
Most of the beneficiaries are Ukrainians who have applied for temporary protection. Their number is around 46,000.
The minister said, this year about two-thirds, and next year about three-quarters of the funds spent on immigration services, will go to services for those who arrived from Ukraine. According to her, before the Russian invasion in 2022, compensation was paid at 50-60 million annually, while now it is over 150 million.
Municipalities are responsible for the integration of those who have arrived in the country.
Tiina Rahimi Ahmadi, customer service manager for the integration services of the city of Turku, is concerned about the consequences if immigrant integration becomes more difficult.
