In late May (weeks 20-21), the police implemented a nationwide intensified surveillance period alongside the occupational safety and tax authorities, in which tax number identifiers were checked in various sectors, employee lists were compared to the number of actual employees, and attention was paid to the use of foreign labour and occupational safety conditions in the workplace.
A total of 172 inspections were carried out, in which 1,234 employees were inspected. Foreign workers accounted for 573 (46 percent) of these employees. The inspected sites were selected on the basis of advance analyses and monitoring plans drawn up through inter-authority cooperation. The control operation focused on the restaurant and construction sectors, and car washes and hairdressers.
According to Chief Superintendent Arto Hankilanoja of the National Police Board, the inspections revealed that working conditions were mainly legally compliant. The authorities provided advice and guidance to both employers and employees wherever shortcomings were observed.
“Preventative action, rectification of the observed shortcomings and the improvement of working conditions in order to safeguard the viability of the business sector and the financial basis of society are a key function of special control operations of this kind,
The authorities issued dozens of recommendations and comments relating to lackof shift rosters, working time records, the duty to ensure the implementation of labour rights, occupational safety, labour protection, the arrangement of occupational health care and food hygiene. 17 undocumented employees (1.4%) were uncovered, 15 of whom were foreign nationals working without legal permits.
Reports of offences were filed on the use of undeclared work force, and fines were recorded for violations of the Aliens Act and working time violations. One restaurant was closed because the security steward did not have a valid security steward licence and a report of a crime was filed on the issue. The surveillance led to a number of further investigations that are still pending.
