Finland Bans Wild-Berry Employers from Recruiting Foreign Workers as Migri Cracks Down on Labour Exploitation
- Xavi
- 2 days ago
- 4 min read
Updated: 1 day ago
HELSINKI, August 10, 2026 — The Finnish Immigration Service (Migri) has made its first decisions to refrain from issuing work permits to employers in the wild-berry sector found to have committed irregularities and neglect, effectively barring them from recruiting third-country workers for a defined period.
The decisions target approximately twenty employers who recruit wild-berry pickers from abroad. Of these, eleven have been sent a request to correct shortcomings in their operations, and to date, four have received a formal decision on refraining from issuing permits. Consideration for six employers is ongoing and expected to be completed during August. For one employer, the irregularities have been considered resolved.
"Addressing the issues found in the wild-berry industry is crucial. By choosing not to issue permits, we can stop the ongoing irregularities and guarantee that individuals coming to work in Finland will have fair terms and proper working conditions established beforehand."— Veera Salminen, Process Specialist, Finnish Immigration Service
How the Refraining Process Works
The decisions are based on section 20, subsection 2 of the Seasonal Workers Act and section 187, subsection 1 of the Aliens Act.
Step | Process |
1 | Employer given opportunity to correct identified shortcomings |
2 | If corrective measures are insufficient, employer is heard again before final decision |
3 | Decision made for a period of 3 to 12 months |
4 | During this period, no permits issued for employment with that employer |
The consideration process is two-step, meaning it takes longer than normal permit processing. Decisions usually apply to both work-based residence permits and seasonal work permits, including:
Residence permits for seasonal work
Certificates for seasonal work
Visas for seasonal work
Duration and Impact
The decision to refrain from issuing permits is made for a period of 3 to 12 months by law. The length varies case by case depending on:
The seriousness of the matter
The corrective measures demonstrated to authorities during the process
If a decision is made for 12 months, it may affect recruitment not only for the current year but also for the 2027 harvest season.
Important: The decision does not affect the validity of permits already issued to workers employed by the employer, or the workers' right to work.
Seasonal Work Permits: Key Facts
Wild-berry picking became subject to seasonal work rules with an amendment to the Seasonal Workers Act that entered into force in February 2025. This requires foreign berry pickers to be employed under formal contracts rather than working as independent gatherers.
Permit Type | Duration | Processing Authority |
Visa for seasonal work | Up to 90 days | Ministry for Foreign Affairs |
Certificate for seasonal work | Up to 90 days | Finnish Immigration Service (Migri) |
Residence permit for seasonal work | 3–9 months | Finnish Immigration Service (Migri) |
Residence permit for employed person | Over 9 months | Finnish Immigration Service (Migri) |
2026 Visa Rejection Rates
In July 2026, the Ministry for Foreign Affairs announced it had rejected the majority of visa applications for wild-berry picking concerning employment relationships lasting for a maximum of three months. Of approximately 2,200 applications, about 1,400 were refused.
Finance Minister Riikka Purra (Finns) defended the decision, stating the refusals were based on:
Concerns over the risk of worker exploitation
Shortcomings in employers' ability to meet their legal obligations
Wider Context: Combatting Labour Exploitation
The wild-berry sector has been under increasing scrutiny due to widespread irregularities and cases of labour exploitation discovered in previous years.
Government Action Plan
The Finnish government is taking a multi-pronged approach to combat labour exploitation:
Measure | Status |
Public consultation on residence permit rules | Open until August 27, 2026 |
Easier for Migri to refrain from issuing permits | Proposed |
Ban on recruitment fees charged to workers | Proposed |
Technical amendments to Seasonal Workers Act | Proposed |
Government proposal to Parliament | Autumn 2026 session |
Changes to enter into force | March 2027 |
"There is no place for labour exploitation in Finland. The message to employers is clear: exploitation and the abuse of workers will not be tolerated in Finland, and the authorities will take strong action against it."— Matias Marttinen, Minister of Employment
Enhanced Scrutiny of Applications
From the 2026 picking season, every visa, seasonal-work certificate, and residence-permit application submitted by wild-berry pickers has been subjected to extra-rigorous checks.
The Finnish Immigration Service examines, among other things:
The applicant's status and dependency on the employer
The terms of employment
The employer's ability to meet its obligations
Multiple authorities collaborate to address labor exploitation and human trafficking.
Key Dates
Date | Event |
February 2025 | Seasonal Workers Act amendment enters into force |
May 2026 | Migri announces enhanced scrutiny for berry picker applications |
July 7, 2026 | Ministry for Foreign Affairs rejects majority of visa applications |
August 6, 2026 | Migri makes first decisions to refrain from issuing permits |
August 27, 2026 | Public consultation on residence permit rules closes |
Autumn 2026 | Government proposal to be submitted to Parliament |
March 2027 | Proposed changes to enter into force |
Related News
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