Tax authorities are considering the adoption of tax number badges for cleaners, similar to those introduced recently for construction workers.
The proposal is aimed at ensuring that all janitorial staff are working legally in Finland.
The Tax Administration’s Grey Economy Investigation Unit says that is now more illicit labour in the cleaning business than in the building trade. For instance, a recent probe of some 20 firms in the sector turned up many cases of employees being paid under the table.
Visible proof
There are also some foreign companies operating ‘informally’ in Finland without having to officially register in Finland as they do not have any full-time employees here.
Clearly-visible tax numbers would make it easier to check whether workers’ papers are in order. Tax authorities say that private individuals, municipalities and other public-sector bodies sometimes hire grey-market cleaners without realising it.
Since March this year, anyone working at a construction site is required to wear a badge bearing his or her personal tax registration number.
