Labour migration conference 2015: immigration as a challenge for the Nordic Welfare Model

Tuesday, 31 March 2015
Annika Forsander, Head of the Centre of Expertise, Finnish Ministry of Empoyment and the Economy. Annika Forsander, Head of the Centre of Expertise, Finnish Ministry of Empoyment and the Economy. Photo: Terje Lepp/norden.ee

Annika Forsander, Head of the Centre of Expertise, Finnish Ministry of Empoyment and the Economy gave a presentation at the Nordic-Baltic Labour Migration Conference on March 27 in Tallinn. She was interviewed by Häli Ann Reintam, Master's Student at the University of Tartu, Estonia.

How is immigration challenging the Nordic Welfare Model?

The problem is that the Nordic Welfare Model is based on the equality principle, which means that not only the citizens but all the residents of the country as well should have the same rights and bear the same responsibilities. With the increasing mobility, it is hard to keep track of foreign workers. For example 30,000 Estonians who are not registered in the population registers are not entitled to the same social rights as locals. The fact that not everyone has the same rights is challenging the basis of the Nordic Welfare Model.

When it comes to the impact of immigrants on the welfare state, are there any differences when it comes to EU, non-EU citizens? Immigrants from the Baltic States in the Nordic countries?

The problem about non-registered migrants does expand to non-EU citizens as well, because you can be legally in the country, for example if you have a residence permit, but not all the categories of those residing in Finland are entitled to work anyway. Many might be working under illegal conditions, they might be underpaid or their work security is not up to standards.

The difference between non-EU immigrants and those who come from the Baltic States or from the Nordic countries is in their numerousness. When non-EU migrants are in the country illegally they are really in trouble, because they don't have the protection that comes from EU relations.

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