Recognising exploitation at work
Labour exploitation also exists in Finland. Often, the victim is a worker with a foreign background. They may not know the rules of Finnish working life or may be afraid of losing their right to stay in the country.
Labour exploitation means that an employer, for example:
- pays less than the wages prescribed by the collective agreement and the law (underpayment)
- does not give employees the days off prescribed by the law and the collective agreement
- requires employees to work excessively long hours without compensation
- collects money from employees as compensation for the job or a residence permit
- prohibits employees from taking sick leave
- does not arrange for occupational health care
- provides inhumane housing conditions.
If you suspect that you are a victim of criminal labour exploitation, you can contact the police or Victim Support Finland (RIKU). You can contact Victim Support Finland confidentially and get advice on how to proceed. Please contact Victim Support Finland by e-mail (help@riku.fi) or by phone (including text messages or WhatsApp) at +358 40 632 9293.
You can contact the Assistance System for Victims of Human Trafficking by calling +358 295 463 177.
If your employer is insolvent and unable to pay wages, you can apply for pay security (in Finnish “palkkaturva”) from the KEHA Centre. You can submit an application electronically on the KEHA Centre’s website (in Finnish and Swedish) or submit a paper application to the KEHA Centre. Act quickly! The pay security application must be submitted within three months of the date on which you were supposed to receive your pay.
If your life or health is in acute danger at your workplace, call the general emergency number 112 immediately.
Read more
Police: How to report a crime
Victim Support Finland
Assistance System for Victims of Human Trafficking
The website of the Assistance System for Victims of Human Trafficking provides information about the support it offers in several languages.
Residence permit or certificate due to exploitation by employer
If you have been the victim of exploitation and significant negligence by your employer, you can apply for an extension permit or a certificate of an extended right to work and change your employer. You must have a residence permit in Finland that includes the right to work.
Read more
Finnish Immigration Service: Residence permit or certificate due to exploitation by employer