The Finnish labour market has a shortage of skilled workers. One of the key objectives set out in the Programme of Prime Minister Petteri Orpo’s Government is to strengthen Finland’s labour market. While employment must be provided to unemployed jobseekers already in Finland, the country also needs work-based immigration. The plan is to supplement the labour force primarily from EU/EEA countries, while also promoting international recruitment in a targeted manner from third countries. This should be combined with advance measures that actively address abuses in the labour market.

Promoting work-based immigration in a sustainable manner requires that exploitation of foreign labour is prevented and actively combated. A wide range of measures is needed to ensure that every employee can work in an environment that is safe and where workers are treated fairly.

The action plan against labour exploitation is based on the government resolution on a strategy to prevent and combat labour exploitation, adopted in spring 2023. The action plan includes 33 measures that respond to the objectives described in the strategy and ensure that the entries in the Government Programme on combating exploitation of labour will be implemented.