The ministerial working group on employment and entrepreneurship decided on 15 May 2024 to prepare amendments to the Seasonal Workers Act and Decree. The primary route for wild berry picking will be seasonal work in an employment relationship. The aim is that the changes will enter into force for the harvest season of 2025.

In its current form, the status of foreign wild berry pickers involves significant risks. To support political decision-making, the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment commissioned a study on the economic impacts of different solutions. A working group of the Ministry has also produced an additional impact assessment of the options.

The comprehensive reform of the Act on the Promotion of Immigrant Integration (Integration Act) will enter into force at the beginning of 2025 when the main responsibility for integration will be transferred from the state to municipalities. On 4 April 2024, the Government submitted a proposal to Parliament on changes to the reform based on the Government Programme. For example, the imputed reimbursement period for municipalities and wellbeing services counties would be shortened to strengthen general government finances.

The development measures of the employment and economic development services (TE services), the Finnish Immigration Service and the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment reduced the processing time of residence permits for employed persons to an average of 41 days in February 2024 from the previous year’s figure of 77 days.

The Youth Mobility Agreement allows Canadian and Finnish young people aged 18 to 35 to explore the other country through temporary work and travel. The agreement enters into force on 1 March 2024.