The cleaning company SOL Palvelut has revealed that an internal investigation has substantiated allegations that employees were asked to pay a threshold fee for employment. Approximately twenty employees confirmed that they were solicited for this fee, while six mentioned they either paid or still owe money in connection to their job at SOL. This raises serious concerns about the ethical practices within the company and the treatment of its workers.

The background of this investigation is tied to an independent inquiry commissioned by SOL, which was prompted by a public discussion that emerged last fall following the publication of a book by Helsingin Sanomat journalist Paavo Teittinen. This book brought to light various allegations regarding labor practices in the cleaning industry in Finland, which likely contributed to the growing scrutiny of SOL's operational ethics.

Furthermore, SOL has indicated that they referred two specific cases to the police for further investigation last year, substantiating their claims that there was legitimate evidence pointing to the payment of threshold fees. The implications of these findings could not only affect the company’s reputation but also spark broader conversations about labor rights and regulations in Finland’s cleaning sector.