If the final proposal passes, the government will scrap all existing benefits. There are a number of Dutch cities that will introduce basic income next year, and Switzerland is holding a referendum on the topic. There is strong political and public support for the idea in Finland.
The Finnish Social Insurance Institute, the agency planning the proposal, conducted a poll, which revealed 69 percent supported the plan for basic income. Prime Minister Juha Sipila said a basic income means simplifying the social security system.
All adults would receive the payment, regardless of whether or not they have other income coming in.
The unemployment rate in Finland is very high and the basic income is intended to encourage more people to go back to work. As of now, many people who do not have jobs would be worse off if they worked at a low-paying temporary job because they would lose their welfare payments.
Currently, more than 10 percent of the country’s workforce is unemployed, and if the proposal passes, it will cost the government 52.2 billion euros per year.
