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15.04.2026 08:01

PAM survey: Foreign seasonal workers have poorer working conditions

The life of seasonal workers working in Northern Finland is overshadowed by rush and shortcomings in shift planning. This is shown by a recent survey conducted by PAM. Almost a third of all respondents said they had detected signs of labour exploitation.

Service Union United PAM has mapped the working conditions and lives of seasonal workers in Northern Finland with a survey that was open from 16 to 28 February. The survey was responded by 331 seasonal workers. Of these, 66 percent reported working full-time. 49 percent of the respondents worked in the tourism and hospitality industry, 45 percent in the program services industry and the rest in ski resorts or other sectors.

A quarter of the respondents, or 25 percent, reported that their mother tongue was other than Finnish or Swedish, and almost a fifth, 18 percent, had come to Lapland directly from abroad for seasonal work. Most of them had arrived from Mediterranean countries, such as Italy, Spain and Greece.

Almost one third noticed signs of labour exploitation

About a third of the respondents, 27 percent, said they had noticed signs of labour exploitation. Of the respondents who had moved to Finland from abroad, 40 percent had noticed these signs.

The answers particularly highlighted the unpredictability of work shifts, lack of rest periods and days off, and failure to pay for overtime hours or bonuses. In addition, the respondents reported on bending the conditions of a contract, changes in work tasks, and problems related to breaks, safety and management methods.

– These observations should be taken seriously. The authorities’ supervision and powers should be expanded so that companies that violate the provisions of collective agreements have a greater risk of being caught. If the sanctions were significant in size, they would act as a deterrent, says Henna-Kaisa Turpeinen, PAM’s Regional Manager for Northern Finland.

Shortcomings in shift planning a challenge for well-being

The survey also revealed that seasonal workers have a busy schedule as well as shortcomings in shift list planning.

Only a quarter of the respondents felt that working time was sufficient to perform the required tasks. 94 percent said that they need to extend their working day beyond the planned hours to manage all tasks. 76 percent said they get paid for additional work.

According to the collective agreement for the tourism and restaurant industry and the program service industry, the shift list must be available to the employee at least one week before the start of a three-week period, unless otherwise agreed at the workplace. The shift list can only be changed with the consent of the employee and the employer or, in the program service industry, for compelling reasons related to work arrangements.

Only less than half, 45 percent, said they were informed of their shifts well in advance and that their employer did not make any changes to them. 62 percent of those who were not informed of their shifts well in advance found the short notice problematic. Respondents said it was difficult to plan life and free time because shifts changed or changes were made so late.

Same companies often struggle with these issues

During the past season, Service Union United PAM has received many contacts, especially regarding inadequate or unpaid orientation. 30 percent of survey respondents reported that they had not received orientation to perform their work duties within the specified time.

– It is often the same companies that are struggling with problems concerning inadequate orientation and failure to comply with employment terms, says Henna-Kaisa Turpeinen.

Read more about the survey results here (in Finnish)

Keywords:

Adventure services hotel and restaurant industry ski centres

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