New advisory board to combat foreign labour exploitation

The government has recently formed a new advisory board, which will support efforts to stop exploitation of foreign workers and entrepreneurs, said the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment in a press release on Monday.

The exploitation of foreign workers, which has come to light in recent years, has underlined the need for cooperation between different operators.

The Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment on 21 December 2021 appointed the advisory board on terms of employment and permit supervision of foreign workers and entrepreneurs for the period between 1 January 2022 and 31 December 2024.

The advisory board is an expert body consisting of various authorities and labour market and industrial policy organisations.

Its task is to promote cooperation in matters concerning the terms of employment of foreign workers and the residence permits of workers and entrepreneurs.

The board also aims to improve the flow of information between the authorities, monitor the development of supervision of terms of employment and permits of foreign workers and entrepreneurs, and issue statements on these matters.

“The exploitation of foreign labour is a phenomenon that must be eradicated through close cooperation between different operators in society. The new advisory board is an important step towards combating exploitation and raising awareness of phenomena related to it,” said Minister of Employment Tuula Haatainen.

Chaired by Olli Sorainen, Senior Ministerial Adviser from the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment, the members of the advisory board include representatives of the Migration and Police Departments of the Ministry of the Interior, the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, and the Joint government coordinator against human trafficking.

Other members include representatives from the Finnish Immigration Service, the assistance system for victims of human trafficking, Regional State Administrative Agencies, Helsinki Police Department, TE Offices, ELY Centres and Business Finland.

Of the labour market and industrial policy organisations, the board includes representatives of Confederation of Unions for Professional and Managerial Staff in Finland Akava, Finnish Confederation of Professionals STTK, Central Organisation of Finnish Trade Unions SAK, Confederation of Finnish Industries, Local Government and Country Employers KT, Central Union of Agricultural Producers and Forest Owners MTK, Federation of Agricultural Employers MTA, Suomen Yrittäjät, Svenska lantbruksproducenternas centralförbund and Finnish Food and Drink Industries’ Federation.