Cleaner’s equipment cart at Ruoholahti shopping centre in Helsinki. Police suspect: Foreign cleaners in the Helsinki region were made to work for years with low pay and no days off. LEHTIKUVA
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Police in Finland have completed an investigation into a cleaning company suspected of exploiting foreign workers in the Helsinki region. The case, described by police as “very extensive,” involves alleged human trafficking offences between 2016 and early 2024.
Authorities suspect that two individuals forced employees to work under harsh conditions, paying them low wages while denying them holidays or rest days.
The workers are believed to have been deprived of approximately €350,000 in wages.
“The employees were dependent on their employer in multiple ways. The employer is suspected of taking advantage of this dependency to continue operations,” said Aapo Turpeinen, head of the investigation at the Western Uusimaa Police Department.
According to police, the company used threats to control workers, including warnings that their work permits would be revoked if they tried to change employers. Losing a work permit could mean losing residency in Finland, leaving employees vulnerable to coercion.
The case is now being handed over to prosecutors. Two individuals face charges of human trafficking and violations of labour protection laws.
Authorities have investigated several similar cases of suspected human trafficking in the cleaning sector in recent years.
HT
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Source: www.helsinkitimes.fi
