The parent company of furniture stores Askon and Sotka, Indoor Group, is unable to pay salaries to approximately 500 employees due to ongoing financial troubles. According to Ritva Loikkanen, the chief union representative, the situation has led employees to seek their wages through centralized wage protection measures. As a significant measure, the Helsinki District Court declared Indoor Group bankrupt on February 10, with its sister company, Insofa, entering bankruptcy the following day.

Insofa, which operates a couch factory in Lahti, faced immediate operational shutdowns, sending its entire staff home on Monday. An informational meeting was held remotely for employees on Tuesday to discuss the situation, although details from this meeting have not been disclosed yet. The unfolding bankruptcy proceedings have raised concerns about job security and further financial implications for the affected workers and their families in the region.

With both firms caught in this financial predicament, the broader implications may affect the local economy and the future of the furniture market in Finland. The reliance of employees on state-supported wage protection services reflects the increasing vulnerability in the job market, especially within sectors facing rapid changes and challenges.