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Finland's Anni Sinnemäki: passionate about an individually tailored welfare system

Finland's Minister of Labour wants to make individuals visible. Young people should not be seen as a uniform group but as separate people with different needs. In Finland a lot of time has been spent analysing each person's situation, and as a result, she says, the state can offer more rational measures tailored to the individual's needs.
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More about Anni Sinnemäki

Minister of Labour in Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen's second government in Finland on 26 June 2009, then in Prime Minister Mari Kiviniemi's government  on 22 June 2010. Anni Sinnemäki is the youngest of many young government ministers. Born in 1973, she has already enjoyed a long political career. She has been a member for the Green League of Finland in parliament since 1999 and was elected party leader in 2009. Mari Kiviniemi leads a majority coalition government comprising the Centre Party, The National Coalition Party, the Green League of Finland and the Swedish People's Party in Finland.

Treat people as individuals

Minister of Labour Anni Sinnemäki used to be deputy leader for Helsinki municipality's culture committee, she wrote lyrics for what was one of Finland's most popular bands and she has written several poetry collections. So the question is:

Can art be used more effectively in labour market politics?

"The Nordic welfare model has been mostly positive, but there's been one drawback - people who need help have often been treated as objects. Art can help activate people in new ways. It can increase self-awareness and self-confidence which will strengthen the individual when he or she chooses a future path.

"Before I became a government minister I visited places like the church diaconate service and participated in debates with women with long-term personal problems who were encouraged to write about their experiences. I have been writing in a professional capacity myself, but at the end of the day the difference might not be that great. I think such methods could be used more in both labour market politics and social politics. People must be seen and treated as individuals with their own free will, and they must be included in working life," says Finland's Minister of Labour, Anni Sinnemäki.

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