A landmark Horizon Europe project led by the University of Birmingham concludes that racism is structurally embedded in migration, labour-market and welfare legislation across six EU member states, including Finland. Launched on 26 February 2026, the 180-page report “Racial Logics of Irregular Migration in Europe” highlights how policy design—rather than individual prejudice—creates tiers of “deserving” and “undeserving” migrants. Researchers found that in Finland Ukrainian refugees are portrayed as legitimate war victims, whereas Afghans and Africans who arrive via the Russian land border are framed as security threats. These narratives translate into practice: for example, the push-back law at Finland’s eastern frontier and the new six-year residency requirement for permanent residence permits make long-term settlement harder for non-European migrants. The report argues that such measures reinforce labour segmentation. Migrants working in agriculture, cleaning and food delivery often remain on temporary permits, which tie their legal status to a single employer and limit access to social security. This dependency increases the risk of exploitation and discourages intra-company mobility. For multinational employers the findings are a reminder that compliance alone is not sufficient; reputational risk now extends to how companies treat agency workers and subcontractors caught in restrictive permit regimes. The authors urge policymakers to align anti-racism goals with immigration reforms now under debate in the Finnish Parliament, warning that failure to do so will hamper the country’s ability to attract and retain global talent.
Source: University of Birmingham
