General Issues

Since 2008, Tamy has considered basic income the best long-term solution to ensure basic subsistence for students. Tamy is an associate member of BIEN Finland network, which is preparing a citizens' initiative regarding basic income. The network is part of the open, international and politically independent Basic Income Earth Network, the objective of which is to call for discussion about basic income and make initiatives about it.

The aim of the citizens' initiative campaign is to ensure basic income for everybody permanently living in Finland. The initiative can be read (in Finnish) at http://perustulo.org.

The Student Union organized a conference about basic income in the University of Tampere on April 16, 2012 at 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Some topics for discussion were the history and current standing of basic income initiatives, employees' position in negotiations as well as basic income and immigrants.

Tamy's Basic Income Policy Definitions

In 2011, Tamy's Council of Representatives approved Tamy's basic income policy definitions. These guidelines present Tamy's views on basic income and highlight some important issues that the Student Union considers essential in its model for basic income.

A summary of Tamy's basic income policy definitions can also be read at Tamypedia.

More information:

Secretary for Social Welfare Affairs Olga Haapa-aho

A Summary of Tamy's Basic Income Policy Definitions: Basic income as source of basic subsistence for students

Problems with the current system:

The Finnish constitution states that the public authorities shall guarantee everyone a basic subsistence. However:

• the student financial aid is insufficient and does not keep up with the rise in the cost of living;

• students are the only population group, whose basic subsistence consists partly of loans;

• the student financial aid provides income for only nine months a year;

• eligibility for student financial aid is determined by the student's academic progress and subject to increasingly strict conditions;

• financial uncertainty increases the stress and fatigue experienced by students;

• part-time studying is not possible while on sickness allowance;

• academic unemployment is on the rise, and only few can expect to have straightforward career paths: various types of temporary employment are the future for those with academic education.

Policy definitions:

• basic subsistence should be no less than €600 a month: According to the Finnish National Consumer Research Centre, €600 is the minimum amount with which one can get by, excluding housing and public transport costs;

• in addition to basic income, a housing supplement is paid, reflecting the true housing costs;

• basic income will be index-linked to the rise of living costs, tax free, gratuitous and paid year round;

• and funding for the basic income will be attained through a taxation reform.

Benefits from the basic income:

• it simplifies and clarifies the Finnish social security system;

• makes work more viable and removes disincentive traps;

• removes the complicated income limits;

• cuts back on bureaucracy and removes some of the humiliating practices in applying for welfare benefits, income support in particular;

• frees social work and employment administration resources from mechanical granting of benefits;

• takes changes in life situations more flexibly into account: for example, working or studying part time due to illness or family reasons will become viable options;

• promotes equality by creating equal opportunities for full-time studying;

• increases competitiveness and innovativeness by allowing more freedom of choice;

• helps students to transfer to working life earlier by offering them a real possibility of studying full time;

• as well as guarantees students the best chance and freedom to study.