The Finnish government is preparing to introduce stricter measures in its criminal code to better combat labor exploitation, with a focus on addressing wage underpayment, unlawful fees for job placement, and unreasonable working conditions. The proposed legislation aims to tackle these issues more effectively through the introduction of two new criminal categories: exploitation in the workplace and aggravated workplace exploitation. The reforms are expected to come into effect in the autumn.

Exploitation in the workplace will cover situations where there is a significant disparity between the work performed and the compensation received. When the exploitation results in considerable financial gain for the employer or causes significant harm to the employee, it will be classified as aggravated exploitation. The proposed law stipulates that severe exploitation could lead to prison sentences ranging from a minimum of four months to a maximum of four years.

According to the Ministry of Justice, cases of labor exploitation have increased and diversified in recent years. Issues such as wage underpayment, unjustified charges for job acquisition, lack of proper work hour records, and various forms of precarious employment have been highlighted. The proposed changes are aimed not only at penalizing these abuses but also at raising awareness and improving the overall treatment of workers in Finland.