The changes could take effect from the start of next year.
The government is proposing around 47 million euros in cuts to immigrants’ integration funding.
In the future, the responsibility for integration services would rest solely with municipal employment authorities. These organisations would also have more freedom to decide how services like Finnish language training are carried out.
This means that folk high schools and adult education centres would no longer provide Finnish language courses for immigrants.
The proposal also carries tighter conditions for newcomers. If an immigrant does not follow their integration plan, their social assistance could be reduced or unemployment benefits restricted.
Teaching unions previously said the planned cuts would not only affect immigrants’ language studies, but they would also threaten hundreds of teaching jobs.
The government unveiled its public finance plan for 2027–2030 on Wednesday.
If approved by Parliament, the changes to integration funding would take effect on 1 January 2027.
