Finland Chamber of Commerce: Foreign worker exploitation distorts competition
Criminalizing labor exploitation is, according to the Finland Chamber of Commerce, a key step toward a fairer labour market. The problem should be tackled not by tightening immigration but by strengthening worker protections and oversight.
Parliament is expected to debate a bill this spring that would make labor exploitation a criminal offence. The consultation round ended in early autumn.
The Chamber of Commerce says the proposal is an important step towards a more just working life, including in the context of international recruitment.
“It is wrong that ethically operating companies must compete with actors who gain an advantage through illegal means. Criminalizing exploitation is essential for both legal protection and fair competition,” says Suvi Pulkkinen, Senior Expert at the Finland Chamber of Commerce.
According to the Chamber, the vast majority of companies act ethically when recruiting internationally. However, the spread of labor exploitation and abuse into new sectors must be stopped. The solution should not be to restrict immigration or weaken the position of foreign workers, but to ensure sufficient oversight and impose penalties when violations occur.
“Exploitation often targets people who are already vulnerable, such as those with weak language skills, limited networks, and fear of deportation. Their position in Finnish society must be strengthened. Regional authorities need adequate resources for inspections and the ability to impose sanctions independently,” Pulkkinen says.
Structural reforms needed
The Chamber of Commerce stresses that criminalization alone is not enough. Broader structural reforms are required to strengthen workers’ position and prevent exploitation.
“The time-bound requirements for a permanent residence permit must not be tightened, as the government has proposed. Current requirements are already strict, and intensifying them further increases workers’ vulnerability,” Pulkkinen notes.
Alongside changes to permanent residence permits, the government has introduced the so-called three-month rule for leaving the country, and the Finnish Immigration Service has raised income requirements for family reunification.
“Three months is too short a time to find a new job, and the income thresholds for family reunification were already very high. People can be easily pressured through their family members or by the threat of deportation, as they will protect their loved ones at any cost. It is vital to address the conditions that enable exploitation in a comprehensive way,” Pulkkinen says.
