The funds are set to brighten the employment prospects of immigrants soon after their arrival in Finland as well as increase education opportunities and language learning opportunities for immigrants who have already been in the country for some time.

Half of the funds will be paid out to employers in wage subsidies in an attempt encourage them to hire hard-to-place job-seekers.

Some 300,000 euros, in turn, will be set aside for the provision of language teaching to immigrants taking care of their children at home. In addition, the city will invest 200,000 euros in the provision of labour market training, 150,000 euros in the provision of language teaching to immigrants who have already resided in Finland for some time, and 70,000 euros in the promotion of entrepreneurship among young immigrants.

Helsinki is currently home to over 8,000 under 29-year-old people without secondary school qualifications.

Local policy-makers have identified improving the position of immigrants as a key objective for employment policy-making in the annual budget of Helsinki. The labour market incentives are on the agenda as the City Board convenes for its meeting on Tuesday.

Joonas Laitinen – HS

Aleksi Teivainen – HT

© HELSINGIN SANOMAT