Survey: Finns believe foreigners living in Finland are worse off than
native population
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Finns believe that foreigners living in Finland are worse off than the native population. According to a recent survey, Finnish citizens feel that in terms of employment opportunities and gender equality, among other things, Finland's foreigners are worse off than average.
Social security and employment benefits, on the other hand, were regarded as more or less uniform for everybody.
These were among the findings of a questionnaire survey commissioned by the Finnish Red Cross and carried out by TNS Gallup.
The majority of those taking part in the survey felt that opportunities and services should be equal for everybody. More than half of the interviewed would allow the authorities to bestow more opportunities to representatives of minority groups to improve their position.
"At least in principle, the citizens seem willing to improve the living conditions of Finland's foreign population. People who feel the conditions for the Finns should be better than for those of foreign extraction are a definite minority. At best they constitute less than a sixth of the general population", explains Business Unit Director Juhani Pehkonen of TNS Gallup.
In the perception of many of the respondents, there is a fair measure of racist attitudes in Finland. Some 57 percent of them felt that racism was fairly common in Finland. A third, on the other hand, said there was hardly any racism in the country. Fewer than a sixth of those interviewed recognised any racist attitudes within themselves.
Most Finns would not stand idly by if they saw Finnish co-workers mock a foreign colleague because of his race or skin colour. More than half of them would intervene immediately.
Most people feel foreigners are welcome in Finland, if there is work available. Only seven percent of Finns would favour unrestricted immigration.
The Finnish Red Cross sees the Finns' willingness to improve the foreign population's living conditions as a positive sign.
TNS Gallup interviewed 1,000 Finns over the age of 15 by telephone in January-February. The results were made public on the United Nations' International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. March 21st has been chosen for this annual event as it marks the anniversary of the 1960 Sharpeville massacre in South Africa.
Helsingin Sanomat
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| 21.3.2006 - TODAY |
 Survey: Finns believe foreigners living in Finland are worse off than
native population
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