Estonian firms linked to exploitation of Ukrainian workers in Finland leave million-euro tax debts

Estonian-owned companies Hodes and Bongo Marine, accused of exploiting Ukrainian refugee workers at a Turku shipyard and a Google construction site in Hamina, have left over €1 million in unpaid taxes in Finland, an investigation by Yle’s MOT programme reveals.

Finnish tax authorities filed for Bongo Marine’s bankruptcy this spring over approximately €180,000 in unpaid taxes, while Hodes faces tax debts exceeding €1 million, according to Finland’s payment default register.

The companies, linked through Estonian businessmen Henry Kibe and Henry Siilsalu, have since undergone structural changes. One firm changed its name and was transferred to Bulgarian ownership. Attempts by Yle reporters to reach the companies at their registered addresses in Tallinn found empty offices or no trace of their operations.

Hodes denies allegations of worker mistreatment, attributing its tax debts to errors in tax filings and claiming the actual liability is significantly lower than documented. The company states its operations in Finland have ceased but insists it intends to settle its debts.

A 2025 inspection by Finland’s Licensing and Supervision Authority (LVV) at Turku shipyard identified irregularities in Bongo Marine’s records, including missing payroll documentation and unpaid wages. The report noted discrepancies in worker counts, with at least 18 individuals’ employment status unclear despite using company access passes.