Arajärvi: early language education essential for integration of immigrants

Recession worsens employment prospects

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The downturn in the economy is having a very negative effect on the job prospects of immigrants. The unemployment rate among immigrants is about three times that of the native population.
     However, rapporteur Pentti Arajärvi says that the economic situation is not the only challenge facing immigrants looking for a job.
     In a report that he submitted to Minister of Migration and European Affairs Astrid Thors (Swed. People’s Party) on Thursday Arajärvi, who is also the husband of President Tarja Halonen, says that immigrants should be offered Finnish or Swedish language classes sooner than is now the case.
     He also called for speeding up the integration process.
     “At present, an immigrant might have to wait up to several months before meeting an employment official.”
     
Arajärvi points out that immigrants are different, and that not all of them need the same kind of help in getting work. “Integration plans should be drawn up individually”.
     Commenting on the proposals, Lauri Ihalainen, President of the Central Organisation of Finnish Trade Unions (SAK), said that it is important to prevent the employment gap between immigrants and the native population from growing further. He also insisted that Arajärvi’s proposals should not be put off until after the recession.
     “This time should be utilised for the education of unemployed immigrants, so that we will be in good shape when times get better.”
     
In addition to more efficient action by public officials, Arajärvi says that changes in attitude are also needed.
      Marjatta Erharyui, local head of immigrant services of the Helsinki Employment and Economic Development Office, says that in the 1990s, employers would often say straight out that they do not want to hire immigrants. Today more subtle methods are used.
     “Sometimes we see want ads in which knowing Finnish is stated as a requirement, even if the job itself does not require language skills. It is a little message of what kinds of applicants are wanted.”
     It has been seen that when a company hires one immigrant, it will often be open to hiring another one, if the experiences are positive - and vice versa.
     
Employers’ negative experiences often stem from cultural differences. Knowledge of different aspects of Finnish work culture is not always self-evident.
     Erharyui notes that much depends on what kind of orientation is given at the workplace.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Astrid Thors wants companies to help train immigrants (13.1.2009)
  Higher employment level for immigrants would save Helsinki millions (3.10.2008)

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