(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Many Finns want to allow more foreigners to live and work in the country, according to a poll by TNS Gallup published in Helsingin Sanomat. 55 per cent of respondents think Finland should take in more immigrants than it does now.

Finnish Centre Party (KESK) leader Matti Vanhanen has been Finland’s prime minister since June 2003, after the resignation of Anneli Jaatteenmaki. In March, Finnish voters renewed the Diet. Vanhanen formed a new coalition administration, encompassing the KESK, the conservative National Rally (KOK), the Swedish People’s Party (RKP), and the environmentalist Green League (VIHR).

On Oct. 1, Finland’s Labour Ministry announced the start of a recruitment campaign, aimed at attracting foreign workers. According to the government, the country aims to recruit at least 1,000 people to fill jobs in the health care, building and transport sectors, particularly in Eastern Finland.

Last month, foreign trade and development minister Paavo Vayrynen questioned the rationale behind the recruitment strategy, saying, "In my mind, it would be better to promote the transfer of work that cannot be done here to abroad. In other words, not to wilfully begin to promote work-related immigration, because it has its own problems."

Polling Data

Do you think Finland should take in more immigrants than it does now?

Source: TNS Gallup / Helsingin Sanomat
Methodology: Telephone interviews with 1,003 Finns, conducted from Sept. 19 to Sept. 27, 2007. Margin of error is 2 per cent.

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