Issues at work

Most employers in Finland want to treat their employees well and comply with laws. If there are problems at work, you should discuss these first directly with a supervisor. In large workplaces, there are usually shop stewards or occupational safety representatives to ask for help. Often problems can be solved by talking. If the situation is not resolved or if the issue is serious, you should ask for help from others. Organisations and authorities offer help.

It may be that an employee does not receive salary or other compensations that belong to them. There may be too much work, or the employer may pay salaries under-the-table, meaning that taxes are not paid. The work may be dangerous if protective gear is poor or missing.

Human trafficking is rare in Finland, but this occurs as well. Human trafficking includes forcing another person to work without a salary.

Authorities and organisations help with all of these problems in Finland. Depending on the situation, an employee can be helped by a supervisor, a shop steward, a trade union, the occupational safety and health authority, the police, Victim Support Finland (Rikosuhripäivystys) or the assistance system for victims of human trafficking.

Problems are often related to payment of salaries or working conditions

Usually, employment contracts, collective agreements and labour laws are followed in Finland. However, sometimes there are problems at work. These problems can be slight or severe. Employers do not always know their obligations or they may deliberately do the wrong thing. Labour exploitation means that a disadvantaged employee is exploited for financial gain.

If an employee does not know their rights at work, the risk of being exploited is higher. Some employees also fear that bringing up issues at work would affect their residence permit. However, a victim of labour exploitation can apply for an extension to their residence permit due to this exploitation.

Problems can arise with the following:

• The employer does not pay a salary according to the collective agreement.
• The employer does not pay bonuses or overtime compensation.
• The employer wants to pay the employee directly without paying taxes and other fees.
• The employer pays too little or not at all for sick leave.
• The employer does not provide the employee with a salary slip.
• The employer gives the shift roster too late or changes the shifts without consent from the employee.
• The employer calls the employee during a holiday or free day and orders them to come to work.
• Work is dangerous because of missing protective gear.
• The employer makes the employee work too much.
• The employer does not react to employee harassment or inappropriate treatment.
• The employer refuses to organise occupational health care.
• The employer does not provide the employee with a work certificate even when the employee asks for it.

More information about solving problems at work: Problems in working life (infofinland.fi) (Finnish, Swedish, English, Russian, Estonian, Ukrainian, French, Spanish, Turkish, Chinese, Farsi, Arabic)

An undeclared worker is in a vulnerable position

Undeclared work (pimeä työ) is usually paid in cash and the employer and the employee do not report this income to the authorities. The employer does not pay for the employee’s social security contributions or withholding tax. Often, undeclared work is arranged between the employer and the employee. Undeclared work is a crime in Finland. Both the employee and the employer can receive a penalty for this.

Undeclared work is never worthwhile for the employee or society. Public services are paid through taxes. If people do not pay taxes, the wellbeing and stability of society are endangered. Those doing undeclared work are not paid earnings-related unemployment benefits, pregnancy allowance or parental allowance, and they do not accumulate any pension in case of old age or incapacity for work.

A person doing undeclared work is in a much more vulnerable position compared to employees in a lawful employment relationship. If the person has a dispute with the employer concerning, for example, the payment of salary, it is difficult to get help. If an accident occurs at the workplace, the insurance does not grant any compensation to the employee.

What does human trafficking mean?

In the most severe cases, exploitation of an employee may be considered human trafficking. Human trafficking means a situation where an employee must work in conditions similar to forced labour.

Signs of human trafficking include:: 

• The employer takes the employee’s bank card, passport, residence permit or other important documents.
• The employee must live at the workplace in dismal circumstances.
• The employer is violent toward the employee or threatens with violence.

With human trafficking, the employee is often in some way bound to the employer. The employee may be in debt to the employer or the employer may have taken the employee’s documents. In practice, it is impossible for the employee to refuse work or stop working for the employer. The employer may also be violent or threaten to be violent toward the employee or those close to them.

Where to find help for different issues at the workplace

Issues should primarily be resolved at the workplace

The employee should first speak directly with their supervisor. They can also ask for help from a shop steward or occupational safety representative if the workplace has these.

Sometimes it is impossible to turn to the supervisor, because they participate in the poor treatment of the employee. If the situation cannot be fixed at the workplace or the issue is severe, this maltreatment should be reported to an outsider, such as the authorities or Victim Support Finland (Rikosuhripäivystys).

The video below discusses worker rights in Finland.

Video: Rikosuhripäivystys - RIKU Every foreigner has the same rights at work as Finnish citizens (youtube.com)(English, Bengali, Hindi, Arabic, Chinese, Nepali, Thai, Sorani, Dari, Estonian, Russian, Vietnamese, Ukrainian, Somali, Bulgarian, French)

The occupational safety and health authority gives advice

The occupational safety and health authority gives advice to both employees and employers. It oversees employers’ compliance of labour laws. In cases of discrimination, you can contact the occupational safety and health authority, the Non-Discrimination Ombudsman or the Ombudsman for Equality.

More information from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s Telephone Service: Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s Telephone Service (tyosuojelu.fi) (Finnish, Swedish, English)

Trade unions offer members advice and legal aid

Trade unions also help their members. Trade unions promote worker rights. The Central Organisation of Finnish Trade Unions (SAK) also offers free employment relationship advice even if you are not a trade union member. Advice can be received by calling or sending an email.

In cases of human trafficking, you can turn to the authorities or Victim Support Finland

Human trafficking is a matter for the police in Finland, but at first it is also possible to seek aid from the occupational safety and health authority or Victim Support Finland. Victim Support Finland is an organisation which gives victims of crimes advice and support.

There is also an assistance system for victims of human trafficking in Finland which is run by the Finnish Immigration Service. Through the assistance system, people can receive safe accommodation, direction and advice or a legal assistant, depending on their needs.

More information about an employee’s rights and obligations as well as where to find help. : Work Help Finland -application (migri.fi) (Finnish, English, Albanian, Arabic, Bengali, Bosnian, Dari, Spanish, Farsi, Hindi, Kurdish, Mandarin Chinese, Nepali, Portuguese, French, Romanian, Swedish, Somali, Thai, Turkish, Ukrainian, Uzbek, Urdu, Russian, Vietnamese, Estonian)

More information about the assistance system for victims of human trafficking: Human Trafficking (Finnish, Swedish, English)