Finland Times

 

EK's President and CEO Jyri Häkämies.File Photo – Lehtikuva.

The Confederation of Finnish Industries (EK) views the influx of refugees as positive. 

 

EK's Chief Executive Officer Jyri Häkämies made the observation while talking to national broadcaster YLE in its Ykkösaamu (morning breakfast) programme on Saturday.

 

He pointed out many sectors, such as health-care, where foreign labour is needed.

 

“The number of asylum seekers is not so great that Finnish jobs are at risk,” Häkämies said.

 

In his opinion, the first step is to be able to quickly identify the backgrounds of immigrants and find out what kind of experience they have.

 

“From there, we can draw up the basic paths forward,” said the labour leader.

 

EK is currently working with its members to see what kind of, for example, internship opportunities could be available.

 

“It could be an apprenticeship, or perhaps another kind of training,” he added.

 

Häkämies is of the opinion that if the integration and employment of immigrants is successful, it will have a big impact on the sustainability gap. 

 

He pointed out that, for example, many of those who came to Finland from Vietnam in the late 1970s have integrated into Finnish society. Many of them are entrepreneurs.

 

“Avoiding confrontation is the key. We have a moral obligation to help refugees. Finland has also lived on exports. We hope that Finland remains an open and tolerant country that attracts foreign ideas, capital and people in the exact opposite way of those who recently acted in Lahti,” he said.