Newsweek in plain Finnish | Sunday 14.6.2026

EU and immigration. Nursing and language skills. Minister of Social Security. Drone threat and salaries. Burial.

Listen

You can read the news simultaneously below.

EU immigration package

Open image viewer

Asylum seekers trying to enter Finland at the eastern border in 2023. Photo: Pauliina Tolvanen / Yle

First, EU policy.

The European Parliament has approved the immigration package.

It contains 10 legislative proposals: for example, more efficient border control and faster processing of asylum applications.

EU countries must help member states that receive a lot of immigrants.

The reform also takes a stance on instrumentalised immigration at Finland’s eastern border. Instrumentalised immigration means that another country deliberately directs or transports people to the border.

It is not yet clear how uniformly EU countries will comply with the new rules in practice.

Poor language skills in elderly care

Open image viewer

The nurses’ language skills have not been good enough to care for the residents. Photo: Getty Images, photo collage: Otso Ritonummi / Yle

Then about caring for the elderly.

There have been language problems in home care companies in Western Uusimaa. The welfare region has terminated contracts because the nurses do not speak Finnish or Swedish well enough.

One agreement was with Keltakulla hoiva Oy. Service Director Tuula Suominen says that Keltakulla’s problems were exceptionally serious.

An extensive investigation by Yle revealed that poor language skills have caused medical errors across the country.

New Minister of Social Security

Open image viewer

Karoliina Partanen was elected to Parliament in the 2023 parliamentary elections. Photo: Saara Peltola / Lehtikuva

Then news from the government.

The new Minister of Social Security in the government is Karoliina Partanen from the National Coalition Party.

Partanen is a Member of Parliament and deputy judge from Kuopio. He was also elected deputy chairman of the National Coalition Party last weekend.

Partanen replaces Sanni Grahn-Laason, who is on parental leave.

Grahn-Laasonen has said that she will return as Minister of Social Security at the turn of the year.

Drone threat and salary payment

Open image viewer

Screenshots of Wilma messages from Helsinki schools on May 15, 2026, when a warning was issued in Uusimaa to stay indoors due to the drone threat. Photo: Petteri Juuti / Yle

Now about the drone threat and salary payments.

The state, employers and employees have agreed on the payment of wages when a hazard notice has been issued.

The recommendation is that salary payments continue if an employee misses work due to a drone threat.

The teachers’ union rejected the solution because it is not binding but only a recommendation.

Burial is often left to the municipality

Open image viewer

Most deceased people have relatives, but burial is no longer always seen as a family duty. Photo: Kalle Mäkelä / Yle

Finally, about the burial.

More and more relatives are refusing to bury their loved ones.

The law states that in that case, responsibility for the deceased remains with the municipality of residence. The Association of Local and Regional Authorities says that there are a few hundred such cases every year.

This happens especially in big cities.

The municipality has the right to collect funeral expenses from relatives.

This was the news week in plain Finnish. See you again, bye!