Fighting against migrant worker exploitation

In February, police reported on a major extor­tion case of Vietna­mese agricul­tural workers in Närpiö, a small town in the Ostro­bothnia region on the west coast of Finland.

Three Vietna­mese entrepre­neurs are under inves­ti­ga­tion for illegally deman­ding their compat­riots to pay some 10,000 euro each, or even more, to get them work in the green­houses in Närpiö.

The case aroused widespread discus­sion. Närpiö is known as a decent and orderly town with good experiences of immigra­tion and a low unemplo­y­ment rate. Now, Finns began to realise that foreign worker exploi­ta­tion can really happen anywhere.

As the number of foreig­ners has until recent years been relati­vely low, Finland has been slow to wake up and unders­tand the exploi­ta­tion mecha­nisms of foreign workers. Now, there are many actors who are deter­mined to work on these issues: autho­ri­ties, police, trade unions.

SAK, the Central Organi­sa­tion of Finnish Trade Unions, has an employee rights hotline that can be reached by telep­hone and e‑mail. It advises emplo­yees of foreign origin in questions and problems concer­ning their employment.

This free of charge service is open to all and does not require trade union membership. The service operates in Finnish and English.

Through the hotline, union experts can check and explain emplo­y­ment contracts should the caller not unders­tand them. They can explain the correct wage and shift work or holiday bonus in your branch.

Where the union is strong, workers can always better defend their rights.

Also, if you are facing harass­ment or discri­mi­na­tion at work, the experts will offer help and advice on how to deal with it. What the hotline doesn’t do, is contact your employer or find a job for you.

Last year, the SAK hotline responded to 417 people. Almost half of the questions concerned pay, typically on shift work and holiday bonuses.

Some 20 per cent of questions concerned termi­na­ting the work contract. Increa­singly, emplo­y­ment is disguised as entrepre­neu­rial work thus leaving the worker without annual holiday pay and occupa­tional health service.

There are many sources to find accurate infor­ma­tion on the rules of working life in Finland. SAK unions have a joint website, www.tyoelamanpelisaannot.fi. It provides all basic facts in 20 languages.

Victim Support Finland is an autho­rity to contact in case you suspect you are the victim of a crime like labour exploi­ta­tion. On their website www.riku.fi is a short animated film about workers’ rights in 16 languages and notes on the features of labour exploitation.

And, of course, the trade union always helps its members in every way. Where the union is strong, workers can always better defend their rights. Don’t mourn, organise!

SAK EMPLOYEE RIGHTS HOTLINE

0800 414 004
workinfinland@sak.fi
Mon 2–5 pm, Tue & Wed 9–11 am, 12–3 pm.