The Finnish Immigration Service to shut down the Pudasjärvi Reception Centre

The cooperation negotiations are based on financial and functional reasons. The appropriations granted to the Finnish Immigration Service have been reduced in 2020 and 2021, which requires cutting down on operating costs. At the same time, the need for receptions centres has diminished as the number of asylum seekers has diminished. The Finnish Immigration Service aims to match the number of receptions centres with the actual need.

The cooperation negotiations will begin on 10 June 2020 and will apply to all 9 employees of the Pudasjärvi Reception Centre. The objective of the negotiations is to discuss the reorganisation of tasks. The employees will be offered a possibility to transfer to the Oulu reception centre.

Administratively, the Pudasjärvi Reception Centre is part of the Oulu Reception Centre. The Pudasjärvi Reception Centre has been in operation since 2008.

The Finnish Immigration Service is tasked with guiding, planning and monitoring the operation of reception centres in Finland. The centres are maintained by parties such as municipalities, NGOs, and companies. The Finnish Immigration Service is responsible for two state-run reception centres in Oulu and Joutseno as well as detention units in Helsinki and Joutseno.

Finland currently has 40 reception centres.