Finland Times

The government is planning to take an action plan with the view to prevent and control the illegal immigrants in the country, said an official press release.

A ministerial working group on migration discussed the action plan on Wednesday, which has been prepared as a collaborative effort of various ministries and it focuses on the illegal residence in the country of people who have received a negative asylum decision.

Illegal residence is a growing phenomenon whose consequences affect the administrative branch activities of the Ministry of the Interior, the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment, the Ministry of Education and Culture, the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of the Environment and the Ministry for Foreign Affairs.

The consequences are also evident in municipalities and organisations. The measures included in the discussed plan cover the administrative branches of all of these ministries.

The working group decided to further specify the measures, and it intends to make a final decision on the plan at its next meeting.

The ministerial working group also discussed health and social services of illegal residents. This mainly means urgent essential support, for example food and essential medication for a few days.

 The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health will supplement existing guidelines on essential health and social services. At the same time, illegal residents’ requests for urgent medical care will be monitored. Under the Health Care Act, public health care must provide urgent care to those who need it.

 Guidelines on granting social assistance are being supplemented with regard to illegal resident’s right to necessary subsistence and care safeguarded by the Constitution, directing customers to the system of voluntary return, and ending reception services.

As part of the fight against the shadow economy, work done without permits will be monitored. Monitoring of work permits as well as provision of information to employers about illegal employment will be stepped up.

 In practice, this will mean, for example, moving increasingly from the occupational health and safety inspections made by the Regional State Administrative Agencies towards unannounced inspections and more joint workplace inspections by several authorities (Regional State Administrative Agencies, Police, Tax Administration etc.).

The Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment will prepare a situation report on illegal working, the press release added.