HELSINKI, May 6 (Xinhua) -- The Finnish government decided on Wednesday to increase the number of agricultural workers admitted to the country from outside the European Union (EU), a government press release said.
To this end, the government announced plans to allow asylum seekers to take up agricultural work without administrative delays.
An earlier quota of 1,500 non-EU recruits as agricultural workers has now been increased to 3,000. The persons will require the normal work permit clearance and must be quarantined for two weeks upon arrival. The rule would take effect on May 14, according to the press release.
EU citizens will be admitted to Finland within the current "work-based entry" system announced on Monday. EU citizens can work freely in Finland, but under the current restrictions aimed at curbing the spread of COVID-19 they can only arrive with a confirmation of employment and must remain in quarantine-type conditions for two weeks.
As part of its plan to ease the COVID-19 restrictions, the government on Monday said EU citizens would be allowed to travel in for work from May 14.
The government would also temporarily change employment legislation on persons who have "applied for international protection" and have not yet received a decision either from the immigration authorities or from an administrative court.
They could start working without an administrative delay. Rejected asylum seekers would also be allowed to continue working despite a valid deportation order, as long as the services of asylum centers are available to them.
The temporary changes in legislation would continue until the end of October 2020 and would take effect as soon as parliament adopts the bills. Enditem
