In a recent ruling by the South Karelia District Court, a restaurant owner operating in Mikkeli was sentenced to a conditional prison term for the exploitation of former employees. The court found the owner guilty of one severe case of extortion and two cases of work-related discrimination, affecting a chef and four waitstaff members. This case shed light on the exploitative working conditions that some employees endure in the hospitality sector during 2022-2023.

The chef at the restaurant was subjected to exceptionally long working hours, regularly from 8 AM to 9 PM, with only two days off per month, and additional public holidays when the restaurant was closed. Additionally, the court revealed that the chef did not receive the shift premiums as stipulated in the restaurant industry's collective agreement, aside from a few Sunday compensations. Moreover, vacation compensation was also unpaid, resulting in the chef losing nearly 38,000 euros over an eight-month employment period.

This ruling underscores the persistent issues of labor exploitation within the restaurant industry in Finland, highlighting the need for better enforcement of labor regulations and protections for employees. The case has drawn attention to the challenges faced by workers in terms of fair remuneration and working conditions, spurring discussions on regulatory oversight in the hospitality sector to prevent similar abuses in the future.