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31.10.2025 11:10

Same chain, new exploiters

Work-related exploitation has not disappeared in 14 years, writes Collective Bargaining Director Sirpa Leppäkangas. She reminds us that weakening worker protections always benefits those who exploit. Exploitation can be tackled effectively with proper regulation and strong enforcement.

“398 working hours a month. Overtime without compensation. Sudden dismissals. Pressure over residence permits.”

This was the lead-in to PAM magazine’s article series The last links in the chain in 2012. It told the story of two cleaning companies which, according to writers Sini Saaritsa and Tuomas Lehto, had two things in common: they were at the very bottom of the business competition food chain, where public purchasers also sit at the top — and they drew power from the dreams and lack of knowledge of people who had come from abroad.

Modern slavery has crept into sectors like cleaning and restaurants.

In recent weeks, we’ve once again been forced to face the same issue. Helsingin Sanomat journalist Paavo Teittinen reported how modern slavery has crept into sectors like cleaning and restaurants. STT reported on how working conditions are violated in shipyard subcontracting chains.

This news was not a surprise this time either. What’s most troubling is having to admit that the situation has not improved in 14 years. It seems that even among companies we think of as decent, there are still some who seek profit at the expense of those in weaker positions.

Responsibility lies with the companies that provide services, and also with those who buy them — the state, municipalities, other businesses, and each of us as individual consumers.

Who should take this seriously? Responsibility lies with the companies that provide services, and also with those who buy them — the state, municipalities, other businesses, and each of us as individual consumers.

The past 14 years show that simply hoping for good consumer and business ethics is not enough. There will always be people who exploit vulnerable workers just because they can — because something isn’t banned, or because the risk of getting caught is close to zero.

Exploitation can be tackled effectively with proper regulation and strong enforcement.

Unfortunately, over the past 14 years, there have been governments that have wanted to dismantle both.

The current government is punching holes in labour law, making it even harder for workers to stand up for their rights. A previous government drove the taxi sector into a spiral where drivers can no longer make a living. Both have wanted to weaken the authorities’ ability to monitor what companies are doing.

Weakening worker protections benefits exploiters.

To the policymakers who dismantle regulation, I want to say this: weakening worker protections always helps exploiters too. And the cost of flexibility usually falls on the people who already have the least.

Not even a moderately decent company has ever gone under because of regulation that protects people from being exploited. Even the dodgiest companies can do better — if they are forced to.

The author, Sirpa Leppäkangas, Collective Bargaining Director at PAM.

Keywords:

collective agreement immigration legislation

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