Fifty foreign workers in Finland report human trafficking and exploitation concerns

This year alone, 250 foreign workers in Finland suspect they have fallen victim to human trafficking or exploitation. Numerous cases of worker exploitation have been reported across various sectors, with the highest occurrences in the restaurant, logistics, cleaning, and construction industries. The agriculture sector has also seen a significant number of complaints.

Last year, the Victim Support Finland’s special support service for victims of human trafficking and related crimes received about 350 new clients. By mid-October this year, that number was already 308, with approximately 80% being foreign workers. “The number of inquiries tends to increase toward the end of the year,” said Pia Marttila, a specialist at Victim Support Finland.

Despite the rise in reported cases, the numbers are still below the peak year of 2022, when over 500 new clients were registered, including 177 Thai berry pickers. Legal cases concerning the berry companies Kiantama and Polarica are currently ongoing in Lapland District Court.

Surprisingly, there have also been allegations of worker exploitation in the social and health sectors this year, where internationally recruited nurses have reportedly been charged substantial recruitment fees. Marttila noted that charging such fees for employment in Finland is illegal, yet it is still being practiced.

Throughout the year, numerous cases have led to police investigations. Last year, Victim Support Finland submitted 30 requests to police concerning suspected human trafficking or other forms of labor exploitation. By the end of September this year, there were already 40 documented cases.

Marttila emphasized that the actual number of exploitation cases might be much higher, as seasonal workers often receive their pay only at the end of their contracts, which can lead to circumstances where they leave the country before police can investigate.