Introduction
Finland has introduced a significant policy change that requires foreign berry pickers to enter the country as seasonal workers rather than tourists. This decision comes in response to increasing concerns over labor exploitation and human trafficking in the wild berry industry. The new requirement, which takes effect on February 17, 2025, aims to provide better protections for workers, ensuring they receive fair wages and proper working conditions under formal employment contracts.
Key Takeaways
- Policy Change: Foreign berry pickers must now obtain seasonal work permits instead of tourist visas.
- Implementation Date: The new rule comes into force on February 17, 2025.
- Main Objective: The policy is designed to protect foreign workers from exploitation and ensure fair labor practices.
- Affected Nationalities: The change will impact thousands of foreign seasonal workers, with Thai berry pickers being the most significantly affected group.
- Legal and Economic Implications: Employers must now provide formal contracts and comply with Finnish labor laws.
Background and Rationale for the Policy Change
For years, Finland has relied on foreign seasonal workers, particularly from Thailand, to sustain its wild berry industry. These workers typically arrived using short-term Schengen visas, officially designated for tourism purposes but often used for labor.
While the berry industry contributes significantly to Finland’s economy, reports of poor working conditions, exploitative labor practices, wage discrepancies, and even human trafficking have raised red flags among Finnish authorities. Many berry pickers have faced challenges such as:
- Unpaid wages or deductions for travel and accommodation costs.
- Unsafe working and living conditions.
- Excessive working hours with little oversight.
- Lack of access to legal or medical assistance.
Following growing concerns and legal actions against companies failing to provide ethical labor conditions, the Finnish government has decided to eliminate the tourism visa loophole and require all foreign berry pickers to obtain seasonal work permits, ensuring they are covered by Finland’s labor laws.
Impact on Thai Berry Pickers
The majority of Finland’s wild berry pickers come from Thailand, making them the most affected group by this policy shift. In 2024 alone, Finland granted residence permits to 900 Thai berry pickers under a limited work program. However, previous concerns regarding human trafficking allegations led to temporary suspensions of new work permits for Thai nationals.
Under the new policy:
- Thai berry pickers (as well as other foreign workers) will now be classified as seasonal workers.
- They will no longer be allowed to enter Finland under a tourist visa for the purpose of berry picking.
- Employers must issue formal employment contracts outlining wages, accommodation, and working conditions before pickers arrive in Finland.
- The Finnish Immigration Service (Migri) and Ministry of Economic Affairs will increase oversight and monitoring of working conditions.
New Requirements for Employers and Workers
With the introduction of the seasonal work permit system, both employers and workers will need to comply with stricter legal regulations:
For Employers:
- Must provide employment contracts that meet Finnish labor standards.
- Required to cover fair wages, working hours, and overtime pay.
- Must ensure adequate accommodation and healthcare access for workers.
- Must register workers with Finland’s tax authority to ensure proper income taxation.
For Workers:
- Must apply for a seasonal work permit before entering Finland.
- Must have an employment contract before arrival.
- Will be eligible for better labor protections under Finnish law.
- Will be required to pay taxes on their earnings in Finland.
Legal and Economic Implications
The Finnish government hopes that these changes will lead to a more ethical and sustainable berry-picking industry. However, there are concerns that the new rules could:
- Increase labor costs for berry companies, as they will now be required to pay workers a minimum wage and comply with Finnish labor laws.
- Reduce the number of foreign workers willing to travel to Finland, as stricter regulations may discourage participation in seasonal work.
- Affect local businesses, as a decline in berry-picking labor could impact Finland’s berry exports and domestic supply.
However, authorities argue that these measures are essential to prevent worker exploitation and ensure Finland adheres to international labor standards.
Comparison with Other EU Countries
Several European countries have taken similar measures to regulate seasonal work:
- Sweden has also introduced reforms in its berry-picking sector, requiring proper employment contracts for foreign workers.
- Germany and France have established seasonal worker permit programs for agricultural labor, ensuring compliance with labor protections.
- Spain requires companies to cover travel and housing expenses for seasonal farmworkers, ensuring better working conditions.
Finland’s new approach aligns with these international efforts to protect migrant workers and combat human trafficking.
Conclusion
Finland’s decision to require seasonal work permits for foreign berry pickers marks a major shift in labor policy, aimed at increasing transparency, fairness, and worker protection. By eliminating the use of tourist visas for labor purposes, Finland is taking a proactive step to ensure that seasonal workers receive proper wages, housing, and legal rights.
Although the transition may present challenges for employers and seasonal workers, it ultimately strengthens Finland’s commitment to ethical labor practices. The impact of this policy will be closely monitored, and its success will depend on effective enforcement and industry adaptation.
#Finland
Source – schengen.news
