Finland Tightens Residence Permit Rules to Combat Labour Exploitation
The Finnish government has proposed stricter residence permit regulations to address labour exploitation, particularly targeting foreign workers. The Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment has opened a consultation period on the draft legislation, with feedback accepted until 27 August 2026.
Daily Finland and the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment report that the proposal aims to strengthen authorities' ability to intervene in cases of suspected exploitation. Under the new rules, the Finnish Immigration Service (Migri) would have greater authority to refuse or suspend residence permits for employers found to be violating workers' rights. Migri could temporarily block a company from hiring foreign workers if exploitation is suspected.
A key focus of the proposal is the elimination of recruitment fees. The Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment states that residence permits would no longer be granted if an employer has charged employees for securing a job. "There is no place for labour exploitation in Finland," said Minister of Employment Matias Marttinen. "The message to employers is clear: exploitation and the abuse of workers will not be tolerated, and the authorities will take strong action against it."
The draft legislation also includes technical amendments to the Seasonal Workers Act, prompted by an infringement procedure initiated by the European Commission.
The proposal is part of a broader government action plan to prevent labour exploitation, which has already led to legislative changes improving protections for wild berry pickers. Authorities have also expanded multilingual information campaigns to ensure foreign workers are aware of their rights upon arrival in Finland. Additionally, ethical recruitment practices have been promoted in countries partnering with Finland for international labour recruitment.
The government plans to submit the proposal to Parliament during the autumn 2026 session, with the new rules expected to take effect in March 2027. The initiative follows earlier efforts in January 2026 to review and amend residence permit procedures to better combat exploitation (Daily Finland).