Hundreds of people attended a demonstration in front of the Oodi Central Library in downtown Helsinki on Sunday afternoon to protest against the new government's proposed changes to Finland's immigration laws.
The event was organised following the publication on Friday of the incoming government's programme for government, which includes significant tightening of current immigration policy.
The new administration's programme dedicates a full 10 pages to immigration and integration issues, with a stated aim of reducing the number of refugees coming to Finland as well as raising the bar for those seeking Finnish citizenship or permanent residence.
Police said about 300 people attended the demonstration on Sunday, and that the event passed off peacefully.
A Facebook page set up for the event noted the demonstration was organised by working immigrants living in Finland, including IT professionals, doctors and academic staff.
"I'm here because I'm scared. The new government programme is dangerous for me and my family. We moved to Finland not long ago and we are just settling in. Now I'm wondering if our decision was the right one," demonstrator Dmitry Tayya told Yle.
The protest organisers wanted in particular to highlight what they perceived as unfair changes to immigration and labour rules.
"The proposals in the government programme regarding immigration and citizenship reform are unfairly targeting us. We are integrated contributors to society, providing our skilled work in Finland and paying taxes here and we are being made to wait longer to be considered equals. We have put in substantial efforts to comply with the old rules on income, language and residence requirements for citizenship and/or permanent residency," the group's statement said, adding that the protestors are on "Team Finland" and want to contribute to the nation's success.
"We believe that the proposals in the government programme will disincentivise skilled labour from moving to and settling in Finland and therefore mean that Finland will become a less internationally competitive and prospering country in the future."
Sam Spilsbury, originally from Australia but living in Finland for five years, told Yle at Sunday's protest that the new programme for government is unrealistic.
"It is not fair to immigrants who have worked hard to settle and pay taxes to Finland. The new immigration policy has a number of problems," he said.
Key changes in the incoming coalition's programme for government include a reform of the current regulations on obtaining a work-based residence permit which — if the proposal becomes law — will require six years of residence, a language proficiency test, a two-year work history without long-term unemployment or income support, and a requirement of an impeccable record.
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