Lithuanian workers' rights violated at Finland's Turku Port

  • 2006-11-08
  • From wire reports
TURKU, Finland - Occupational health and safety organizations in the Finnish cities of Turku and Pori have discovered numerous working violations, in addition to occupational health and insurance requirements concerning Lithuanian workers.

The Nov. 3 issue of the daily Helsingin Sanomat wrote that, according to dock workers' union representative Jari Aalto, the occupational health and safety organization's report was tough reading. The workers have no insurance, no occupational health program and the highest pay they received was 1.51 euros per hour.
Aalto said that, on top of this, the workers have been denied extra payment for overtime.

From Nov. 3 to Nov. 6, about 1,600 workers left their posts at Aker Yards in Turku, protesting the shipyard's treatment of foreign workers.
Aker Yards, part of the Norwegian multinational Aker Group, promised that the company would demand its subcontractors to honor the collective Finnish agreement, which covers the industry and adheres to labor laws.