Illegal Exploitation of Foreign Workers Flourishes in Finland
Labor-related exploitation has taken root in many industries in Finland, and it particularly affects immigrants employed in low-wage sectors.
“The most egregious cases concern foreign workers in particular. Especially those who have recently moved to Finland to work or who work in Finland temporarily and do not know their rights,” said Rolle Alho, who holds a doctorate in political science, in a morning broadcast on MTV Uutiset.
According to Alho, many cases have come to light in the restaurant and cleaning industries and at shipyards, in the long subcontracting chains of shipbuilding.
“Mainly low-wage sectors where many foreigners work,” Alho says.
The language barrier is central to the issue.
“If you do not understand Finnish or know English, it is very difficult to find out about your own rights here in Finland,” Alho explains.
A Social Problem
According to Alho, this is a social problem in which not only the workers but also honest companies and the state lose out, the latter through forgone tax revenue.
Alho also highlights the gray economy.
“In some cases, this is related to crime and, in the worst cases, corruption, as has been seen in wild berry picking.”
Are Cases Staying Hidden out of Fear?
There are no ready-made solutions to combat the phenomenon. A recent analysis by Teollisuuden palkansaajat (Industrial Wage Earners) proposes tightening legislation, for example by criminalizing underpayment.
Alho calls for significant consequences for those acting improperly. He notes that the phenomenon is also linked to the question of residence permits.
“If people come to Finland with a work-based residence permit, raise problems at the workplace and lose their job as a result, it is easy for them to also have to leave the country and lose their right to live in Finland.”
“We should do everything we can to encourage victims to dare to bring this phenomenon to light. Because if this remains hidden, it will be very difficult to solve,” Alho concludes.
Source: MTV Uutiset (in Finnish)