Further reductions in accommodation capacity at reception centres
The Finnish Immigration Service has informed those in charge of reception centres of new terminations of contracts. The accommodation capacity will be reduced by approximately 2,400 beds, for the most part by the end of June 2017. Those in charge of the reception centres will carry out employee cooperation negotiations with the staff at the centres.
The accommodation capacity is being reduced as the Finnish Immigration Service estimates that the need for accommodation capacity will continue to decrease noticeably next year. It is expensive to maintain unnecessary accommodation capacity and this is why the goal is to keep the number of beds as close to the real demand as possible at all times. The goal of the Finnish Immigration Service is to maintain a 90 per cent occupancy rate at the reception centres.
There are approximately 17,000 beds at the reception centres today. We have previously announced reductions in the accommodation capacity:
- 7,200 beds, in March 2016
- 5,700 beds, in May 2016
- 2,200 beds, in September 2016
- 1,800 beds, in October 2016
The closures and reductions in capacity announced in March and May have already been realised for the most part. The reductions and closures announced in September and October will be realised in April 2017 at the latest. The closures and reductions announced in this press release will be realised during June 2017 at the latest.
Reception centres to be closed down
Reception units for adults and families
- Mäntyniemi in Pyhtää and Ruotsinpyhtää, Kotouma Oy, 180 beds, by 8 June 2017
- Vääksy, Kotouma Oy, 220 beds, by 8 June 2017
- Mikkeli, FRC, 200 beds, by 30 June 2017
- Savonlinna, The Finnish Federation of Settlement Houses, 210 beds, by 30 June 2017
- Keuruu, FRC, 250 beds, by 30 April 2017
- Tornio, FRC, 250 beds, by 30 June 2017
- Seinäjoki, FRC, 125 beds, by 30 June 2017
- Toijala, Valkokulta, 135 beds, by 1 July 2017
Reception units for unaccompanied minors
- Vantaa, Kivistö Supported Housing Unit, Kotouma Oy, 40 beds, by 8 June 2017
- Espoo, Pellas Supported Housing Unit, Helsinki Deaconess Institute, 40 beds, by 30 June 2017
Capacity reductions
Reception units for adults and families
- Espoo and Vantaa flat-based accommodation, Luona Oy, 220 beds, by 28 February 2017
- Oravainen and Jakobstad, Vörå municipality, 100 beds in total, by 30 June 2017
- Imatra, FRC, 100 beds, by 30 June 2017
- Kotka Laajakoski, FRC, 50 beds, by 30 June 2017
- Kemi, FRC, 100 beds, by 30 June 2017
- Rovaniemi Vaaranlaita, FRC, 100 beds, by 30 June 2017
- Lahti Hennala, FRC, 50 beds, by 30 June 2017
- Siilinjärvi Tarina, Kopion Settlementti, 100 beds, by 30 June 2017
- Kristinestad/ Korsnäs, FRC, 50 beds, by 30 June 2017
The Finnish Immigration Service continues to follow the variations in the number of asylum seekers and the processing times of applications. If the number of asylum seekers stays the same, we will have to reduce the capacity further during the second half of 2017 as well. If the number of asylum seekers starts to increase, however, we will increase the capacity at the reception centres according to the need.
Further information for the media
Pekka Nuutinen, Director of Reception Unit, tel. +358 295 430 431, e-mail: firstname.lastname@migri.fi
28.12.2016 at 16: Nuutinen’s title was corrected.
