An anti-immigrant government is an anti-Finland government

When the current government programme was announced back in 2023, I was enjoying a peaceful week in Italy. It was my first holiday to somewhere other than the UK, where all my family still live, since I moved to Finland in 2016.

The government programme cut sharply through that peace. As a trade union worker, with duties to support international students, the government programme felt especially personal.

It was anti-trade union, aiming to shift the power from employees to employers. It was anti-student, with hugely damaging cuts and removal of vital support systems. It was anti-immigrant, in ways that have only become more eminently clear in the two years since.

Worst of all, it has proven to be anti-Finland.

Worsening Finland’s reputation

The view of Finland is sinking fast in the eyes of international tech experts, a joint report by the Academic Engineers and Architects in Finland (TEK) and the Union of Professional Engineers (Insinööriliitto) recently showed.

Only 45 percent responded they felt that Finland has a good reputation amongst international experts, compared to 58 percent just a year earlier. Only 44 percent said they would recommend Finland and crucially, only 47 percent thought they would stay in Finland permanently. These results are from a well settled, highly employed group with an average time in Finland of over seven years. The job market was a factor in these results, but far from the only one.

As a small country, Finland is reliant on its reputation to stand out, and this reputation has been lost so much more easily than we will be able to gain it back.

Weakening Finland’s strengths

Finland is also a country historically proud of its equality. The racism scandals which started early in this government shone a light on the limited truth of that equality, but rather than working to correct course, division has continued to be sown in policy and rhetoric.

Policies such as the widely criticised 3/6-month rule have further separated the positions of native Finns and immigrants, putting those trying to build a home here on even more uneven ground. Government rhetoric, from ministers referencing the replacement theory to the constant blaming of economic problems on immigrants, have further allowed division to spread.

Finland will never stand apart from others as  the warmest country, or the one with the highest wages.  What it can – and must – be, is a country defined by equality and fairness.

Damaging Finland’s future

The data for Finland’s future is clear, but far too often ignored.

Take for example the recent MDI study, projecting Finland’s population growth. At even current levels of immigration, our population will be the same in 2040 as it is today, but it will be significantly older, especially outside the largest cities. The welfare state will be at risk not from immigration, but without it.

We can also consider Finland’s growth numbers, or lack-thereof. It is only through innovation that we will be able to generate industries, attract investment and compete internationally. Diversity is a fuel source for that innovation, for the growth this government claims to strive for.

How can the consequences be reversed?

We need an immigration policy built on treating those moving and living here as human beings.

That doesn’t mean treating every person exactly the same. Rather, it means understanding the unique differences and strengths their background brings. While no immigrant is worth more or less, different groups do need specialised policy.

In my day job, I advocate for highly educated international experts, so I’ll now put some extra focus on them.

International experts are a group that could live anywhere in the world. Most would want to stay here, but only if they feel psychologically safe. That means having permanent residence, or at least guarantees that they will not be kicked out should policy changes or job market challenges demand it.

They must be able to grow roots without fearing they’ll be ripped up. If they can’t do that, can we really expect meaningful integration, meaningful language learning? Can we expect someone to stay here, to give so much, when we cannot even give them the basic right of security?

It will be policies like this that grow back Finland’s reputation. Policies like this that begin to make Finland more equal for immigrants. Policies like this will save Finland’s future. Let those living here feel safe, let them take risks, then watch how they thrive.

That is how we will undo the damage of an anti-Finland government.

Owain Hopeaketo

Owain Hopeaketo moved to Finland from the UK nine years ago to study chemical engineering, but quickly instead found a passion for international student advocacy and support. He has now worked for four years at the trade union TEK, working to make sure international member voices are heard by policy makers and educating internationals on their labour rights. As a vocal supporter of the need for immigrant voices in politics, Owain has also worked in Green Sisu to lower the barrier to participation in Green Party activities for non-native Finnish speakers.