The working group that is preparing this reform started its work on Monday. The guarantee is meant to come into effect at the start of 2013.

Student organisations cheered the news but acknowledged that fulfilling the government’s promise will be quite a challenge.

“It’s not an easy project. Not because it’s going to take a lot of money, but also because it requires cooperation between different administrative sectors and authorities. It’s a challenging project, but yes, we do believe in it,” says Katri Korolainen-Virkajärvi, president of the National Union of University Students.

The idea is that the social guarantee will prevent marginalisation and extend working life.

Project gets underway

The leader of the working group is Tuija Oivo, director of the Employment and Entrepreneurship Department of the Ministry of Employment and the Economy. She notes that the government programme allocates an additional 60 million euros a year for the social guarantee.

“Now we will try to find the most essential items to invest this money in. The working group is comprised of a number of different bodies, but mostly this is a matter of the Ministry of Employment and the Economy, the Ministry of Education and Culture and the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health,” Oivo explains.

She adds that she hopes this project will not be shot down before it even gets off the ground and that difficult issues will also be addressed.