Finland Times

Fewer service positions are now available for civilian service compared to previous times, according to Finnish-language journal Suununtaisuomalainen.

Civil service or non-military service is an alternative for the compulsory regular military service.

After the civil service training at the Centre for Non-Military Service, which runs from January-March, 110 applicants did not get position of service, which is almost a quarter of the number of

trainees. In comparison, only 40 applicants missed service places last year.

According to the journal, the decrease in the number of positions is most likely because of poor economic situation.

The cost of service is about 10,000 euros which is paid to the place of service to cater for daily allowances, food allowances and accommodation.

"If anything has to be saved, this is an easy target," said Mikko Reijonen, the Director of Civil Service Centre.

According to the Union of Conscientious Objectors, the shortage of places should be solved by transferring the cost of living to the state.

Housing costs are already partially paid by the government since 2008.