Abuse and exploitation of foreign workers is not only a problem in low-wage sectors, says Taru Reinikainen, Trade Union Pro’s National Collective Agreement Specialist.
She has helped international experts working in Finnish workplaces in disputes over issues such as non-payment of bonuses and travel expenses or illegal dismissals.
– We only know the tip of the iceberg. Many international experts and specialists are not members of the unions because they do not understand the kind of help that members can get from the union, she points out.
Unemployment means withdrawal of work permit
One of the international experts who has sought and received help is Ramandeep Singh, who moved to Finland from India six years ago to find work. He was hired as a financial manager of a Finnish company on local terms and conditions.
At first everything seemed to be going well, but in autumn 2018 Singh received a surprise email from his employer informing him that he had to return to work in India within two weeks.
– I refused. I was enjoying my time in Finland and had already built a life here. The employer accelerated his order by threatening me with dismissal, Singh says.
For Singh, the situation was tricky, as dismissal and unemployment would have also meant revoking his work permit and forcing him to leave the country.
Dismissal and unemployment would also have meant the withdrawal of his work permit and being forced to leave the country.
Singh recalled discussions about the trade union at the workplace and contacted Occupational Safety and Health Representative, who in turn referred Singh to Taru Reinikainen.
Reinikainen negotiated with the employer on Singh's behalf. An agreement was reached on termination of employment and compensation.
Singh had wanted to take the employer to court for illegal dismissal. However, a lengthy legal process was not possible, as there was a risk of losing his work permit.
Having lost his job, Singh immediately started planning a new future in Finland. A place to study in information technology at Haaga-Helia University of Applied Sciences was quickly secured. A job was also found. The threat of forced emigration disappeared.
Work permit as a means of pressure
Although international experts and specialists are highly educated and usually speak English well, they are still at a disadvantage in the labour market compared to Finnish citizens.
– One reason for this has been the previous residence permit regulations. After losing their job, they have had only weeks to look for a new job that qualifies for a work permit. Employers might have used this to put pressure on the employer with this. At worst, someone who has been dismissed illegally may have found themselves in the grey economy as an undocumented worker, says Reinikainen.
However, the situation has improved since the Singh case, she points out. Nowadays, it is possible to apply for a so-called extension of a permit on the basis of substantial negligence on the part of the employer.
– Although, the degree of significant negligence should be lowered. On the other hand, quite few people are aware of the changed practice, Reinikainen continues.
Many people are unfamiliar with the labour market culture
Vulnerability is also increased by the fact that the Finnish labour market culture and working conditions are unfamiliar to the newcomers. Only few people belong to a union.
Experts from outside of the European Union, especially from so called third countries, are accustomed to a very different working culture in their home country, without a trade union movement than it’s typical in Finland. In the worst case, in some countries, unionisation can lead to death.
Moreover, people from outside Europe may not understand the nature of the Finnish trade union movement and the fact that the union really stands up for its members.
The abuses faced by those from elsewhere are often much more blatant. There is no attempt to force a Finnish worker to work in another country without negotiation.
The problems encountered by international experts in working life are usually very similar to those faced by their Finnish colleagues: lack of allowances or illegal dismissal. However, the abuses faced by foreigners working on work permits are often much more blatant. There is no attempt to force a Finnish worker to work in another country without negotiation, as happened in Singh's case.
According to Reinikainen, helping international talents requires a slightly different approach to resolving labour disputes for Finnish workers.
– Of course, those who come from elsewhere do not know our society and system in the same way as those who have grown up in Finland. Everything needs to be explained to them in detail. Tell them about the length of legal proceedings and explain why they take so long. You also usually have to explain things in English, which can be a foreign language to both of them, she explains.
Learn more about Trade Union in English
It would be easier to tackle abuses if more international experts would be part of the Trade Union.
Reinikainen believes that more people would join if there were more information available about the Finnish trade union movement.
– For example, Pro's website should explain in English very basic things: what a trade union is and what their role is in Finnish society. And that it is quite common in Finland to belong to a union, she lists.
Trade union staff also need more training to deal with the problems of international members. In the future, more and more union workers will have to deal with such tricky cases.
Singh joined Trade Union Pro only after encountering problems. He points out that India does not have a labour market system like Finland's. In practice, unions are completely non-existent.
Trade union staff also need more training to deal with the problems of international members.
Now Singh works in the financial administration of a Finnish company and is finishing a Master's degree in economics at Metropolia University of Applied Sciences.
– Balancing work and studies is easy when you're hard-working. I study evenings and weekends. If I have free time, I go to the gym or go for a walk outside, says Singh.
Singh was recently granted Finnish citizenship. The process took 18 months, a surprisingly long time for Singh.
To get citizenship, you have to pass a Finnish language test. Singh had no difficulty with the test, but he still wants to improve his language skills. He studies Finnish every week in a course organised by his employer.
– To be part of society and culture, you have to know Finnish well, he explains.
On the other hand, Singh criticises employers' high language requirements. Even if the working language of the organisation is English, employers often require good Finnish language skills. Especially for newcomers to Finland, the requirements can create a lot of pressure and stress.
Over the past six years, Singh has also made some Finnish friends.
– But only a few. I'm quite shy. That might be the reason why I don't have many friends, he says.