Foreign cleaner exploitation case in court
Managers of a custodial firm suspected of exploiting foreign cleaners went on trial in Vantaa District Court on Tuesday.
Two Sri Lankan managers from the company face charges including aggravated extortion. The district prosecutor described the case as large in scale, as the company is suspected of exploiting as many as 30 foreign workers.
The cleaning firm is believed to have paid Sri Lankan workers less than the minimum wage, among other offences. The employees worked at bus depots, often in the evening or overnight without the extra pay required for such hours. Some employees were forced to pay thousands of euros to obtain a position with the company.
The firm’s CEO was already handed a suspended sentence in early July for using an undocumented foreign worker and for worker discrimination.
Prosecutors estimate that the illegal practices brought the company a financial benefit of more than 70,000 euros.
A month has been reserved for handling the various aspects of the complex case.
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