Authorities to gain more resources for supervising grey labour market

Organised crime trafficking in migrant labour

(Helsinki 22.11.2003 - Juhani Artto) Finland is tightening its measures to control the abuse of migrant labour. This is largely due to the demands made in recent years by the trade union movement. The movement has fought for reforms that will help to prevent the creation and growth of a grey labour market. Many responsible employers have also echoed the calls to combat migrant labour abuse in the form of substandard working conditions and denial to workers of even the most elementary rights. Law-abiding employers regard such abuse as unfair competition that impairs the competitiveness of their own businesses.

Cases of abuse have so far mainly been exposed in the construction, hotel and catering industries, but cases have also occurred in several other industries, such as road haulage, engineering workshops and harbours.

Read more about the abuse of migrant labour on Trade Union News from Finland.