Problems at work?
The Finnish laws and any international agreements that bind Finland are applied to work performed in Finland. Usually also a collective labour agreement applies. These agreements determine work-related rights and obligations, such as the minimum wage. The purpose of the agreements is to protect employees.
No employee should submit to inappropriate treatment, underpayment, too long work days, or dangerous working conditions.
If you encounter problems in your work, help is available – see the links below. You may also seek help from a lawyer, for example. If you have a residence permit in Finland and your employer has exploited you, you can apply for an extended permit or a certificate of expanded right to work.
- If the working conditions at your workplace are not good, you may ask for advice from the occupational safety and health authoritiesLink to an external website, Opens in a new tab.
- If you are unsure what kind of work your residence permit entitles you to do, the authorities that have granted the permit will advise you.
- If you find out that the law is being broken at your workplace, you may always turn to the police.
- If you are not paid an appropriate salary (at least the minimum wage you are entitled to, or the salary stated in your employment contract) or if you are given work shifts that are too long, perhaps without appropriate breaks, your employer may be committing a crime. You may report the matter to the policeLink to an external website, Opens in a new tab or the occupational safety and health authoritiesLink to an external website, Opens in a new tab.
- If you are a member of a trade union, you may ask for help from your trade union or an employees’ representative.
- Other pages:
Video: Every foreigner has the same rights at work as Finnish citizens (English) (youtube.com)Link to an external website, Opens in a new tab
