Kokoomus proposes stricter welfare and language rules for immigrants in new policy

The National Coalition Party (Kokoomus) is set to release a comprehensive migration policy on Friday that introduces major revisions to the social security framework for immigrants. Under the draft, eligibility for unemployment benefits would be granted only to those who have worked, with benefit levels linked to the duration of Finnish employment. Pension rights would become more restrictive, reducing entitlement the longer a person has lived abroad and requiring longer residence periods for full state and guaranteed pensions.

The party also proposes limiting free interpreter services to a maximum of two years after arrival and implementing language proficiency assessments for children in three-year health checks, directing those with insufficient skills to early-education programs. The plan, prepared by MP Atte Kaleva, expands on the party’s May platform that called for stronger integration obligations, including mandatory language courses and job-search requirements, and aims to curb perceived welfare abuse while promoting immigrant participation in the labour market.