Police suspect that 58 Chinese cleaners had to pay brokers thousands to get work in Finland
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A criminal investigation into the recruitment of Chinese as cleaners in Finland has expanded to involve the large cleaning service provider SOL. Police are investigating whether or not the company, which has operations in Finland and nearby countries, is responsible in part for illegal actions that may have been committed by a company that it works with.
The Chinese cleaners say that they had to pay brokers fees of between EUR 8,000 - 13,000 for a job in Finland.
The recruitment process has involved local labour exchange companies in China and the Espoo-based Sevirita Oy, which sought out employees for SOL.
There are 58 possible plaintiffs in the case. Most of them are still working for SOL.
In addition to work, the Chinese have been offered language courses, training, and housing.
“The preliminary investigation involves whether or not the sums of money paid by the cleaners are reasonable, and what they have received in return for the money”, says Arto Karalahti of the Helsinki police.
The suspected crime in the case is labour discrimination in the form of gouging.
Nearly all of the Chinese cleaners have been interviewed by police.
Next the police will question the suspects. Karalahti says that he expects that a couple of people from Sevirita and a couple from SOL will be interviewed.
Sevirita has denied charging the Chinese any brokerage fees, or getting any money from the Chinese companies.
“With respect to SOL, we will ascertain to what extent the company is responsible fo the activities of its partner”, Karalahti says.
SOL’s director of personnel and legal affairs Juhana Olkkola says that he does not believe that the company has acted improperly.
“We have trusted our contract partners and operated according to the contract. The contract states separately that the fees imposed on the Chinese by Sevirita should be reasonable.”
“There have been many rumours around this matter, so it is good if the police investigate it”, Olkkola says.
Sevirita and the Chinese cleaners will also face each other in the district courts of Helsinki, Espoo, and Vantaa soon in trials involving dozens of civil lawsuits.
Sevirita is complaining of unpaid rents, while the cleaners are demanding compensation for excessive rents and education fees.
Helsingin Sanomat
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| 3.3.2009 - TODAY |
 Police suspect that 58 Chinese cleaners had to pay brokers thousands to get work in Finland |
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