The mayor of the majority Swedish-speaking town of Närpes on the west coast of Finland has rejected criticism of employment-based immigration by the Finns Party.

Mikaela Björklund (SPP) was responding to an article in the Finns Party’s own online publication Suomen Uutiset, in which party chairJussi Halla-aho referenced the fruit and vegetable picking industry in Närpes as an example of how low-paid workers are a burden on the Finnish economy.

However, Björklund told Yle that she considers the criticism unfair and said Närpes has become a model example of how successful integration of foreign workers can benefit the local economy.

"From the municipality’s point of view, the effects of immigration have been positive. As businesses have developed, the city has also received extra revenue. The total balance shows a plus sign," Björklund said, adding that the Finns Party criticism does not take into account the broader picture.

Halla-aho’s comments were based on a study by a think-tank called Suomen Perusta, linked to the Finns Party, which examined how much income support is received by immigrant workers in each municipality.

Suomen Perusta wasreprimanded by then-Minister of Science and CultureHanna Kosonen (Cen) in June this year after the publication of a "cruel and disturbing" book on women in Finnish society.

Facts behind the figures

The think-tank’s report claimed that the number of foreign workers receiving income support in the Swedish-speaking municipalities of Ostrobothnia was proportionately high, and linked the finding to the fact that up to 16 percent of Närpes’ residents are of foreign background.

However, Björklund said that the region had relatively very few recipients of income support, citing data supplied byhealth agency THL which showed that an average of 28.30 euros per inhabitant was paid out in income support last year, and added that the employment figures were among the best in the country.

"Currently, the unemployment rate is 4.3 percent," Björklund said, adding that just looking at the backgrounds of recipients of income support gave an oversimplified and false impression of the overall situation.

Arecent report by benefits agency Kela also found that the difficulties for foreign workers in securing employment as well as lower income levels were significant contributing factors in the increased need for income support among Finland’s immigrant population.

"Welcome to Närpes"

Björklund expressed her concern that the Finns Party’s criticism could negatively influence Finnish consumers, and thus have an impact on the livelihoods of the region’s vegetable-producing businesses.

"It would be a great pity for the whole of Finland if people did not want to buy clean, domestically-produced vegetables," the mayor said, adding that Finns Party chair Halla-aho is welcome to visit Närpes and learn more about the local produce.

"The municipality doesn't really invite anyone, as such, but if he wants to come, we are ready to introduce the region and show how the work here is done," Björklund added.