Migri to renew work, study activities at refugee centres

Finnish Immigration Service (Migri) will renew the work and study activities arranged by reception centres for asylum seekers.

The intention is to find out whether the reception centres could organise more activities such as workshops, information events and short training courses that would help asylum seekers enter working life, said an official press release.

Organising work and study activities belongs to the tasks of reception centres. The asylum seekers usually study Finnish or Swedish in the reception centre. In addition, they receive information on Finnish society and how it works. Work activities currently often comprise cleaning and repair work in the area of the reception centres.

The aim is that reception centres could direct the asylum seeker to work and study activities that best suit their capabilities. They can also be encouraged to enter activities outside of the reception centre. Offering the possibility to learn Finnish and participate in activities with a purpose are the most important ways of supporting people’s well-being, activeness and the ability to cope.

“The intention is to create a work and study activity model with a purpose that takes account of the resources of reception centres and the diversity of their inhabitants,” said Sari Hammar, project manager of the Osaka project that was set up to develop work and study activities.

People living in reception centres also have the obligation to participate in the activities. Refusal to participate may reduce the amount of the reception allowance.

The intention is to already assess the asylum seeker’s education as well as previous working experience and interests more systematically during their stay at the reception centre. Another aim is to document their previous expertise and the skills they have developed after arrival in Finland, such as progress made in language studies. There is currently variation in the extent to which such information is gathered from asylum seekers.

The information will be of use in employment and economic development administration as well as in municipal integration services after an asylum seeker, having received a favourable permit decision, moves away from the reception centre to live elsewhere in the municipality. In addition, the asylum seeker receives the information for use when applying for a job, for example. In addition, also those having to leave Finland will then receive a document that demonstrates their competence and the skills and capabilities they have developed during the time spent in the reception centre.