Customs worker relocates from Imatra to Kilpisjärvi to avoid furlough

Tuija Dahlgren moved more than 1,000 kilometres from Imatra to take a job at the Kilpisjärvi customs station after the closure of Finland’s eastern border put nearly 100 Customs employees at risk of furlough, Yle reports.

On her last day at the Imatra customs station, Dahlgren walked through its empty corridors, past silent keyboards and dark monitors. The scene felt like a disaster film, she recalled. She said she was left with a small glimmer of hope, but above all deep sadness.

Finnish Customs began change negotiations over furloughs last winter, and they concluded in early May. Employees at risk were offered the chance to move to another location. Kilpisjärvi, in Finnish Lapland near the Norwegian border, needed more staff because of increased traffic.

Employees had only a few weeks to consider the available locations. About 40 accepted the offer, and most were placed at their first-choice location, according to Customs’ finance director, Pekka Pylkkänen. Dahlgren had previously asked about work that could be done remotely and applied for a position in the Helsinki region, but was ultimately offered a job in Kilpisjärvi.

The move took her to Lapland for the first time. Before that, she said, her furthest-north experience had been the Provinssirock festival in Seinäjoki. She has settled into her new job and found a home about 100 metres from the customs station. The station works closely with Norway, and Norwegian colleagues work in the same premises.

Dahlgren says the distance from her life in Imatra is difficult. She drives home when her days off allow, a journey that takes 12 to 14 hours. The long trips have taken a toll on her car, and she plans to travel by bus, train and plane in winter instead. She hopes eventually to find work that is not tied to a location and is closer to home.

Although she enjoys the variety of her new role, Dahlgren says her roots in South Karelia are deep and she does not expect to retire in Kilpisjärvi. She hopes her experience will encourage others considering a move for work to give it a try. In her free time, she enjoys being outdoors, including in Malla National Park.