Working without pay applies to Finnish citizens, but especially to international architects and architecture students who have moved to Finland from another country.
“Students and recent graduates who have moved to Finland from abroad are in a vulnerable position, because they have the hardest time finding a job in their field in Finland. In a poor job situation, there is a great temptation to work for free to gain more work experience. Unpaid internships increase inequality in the labour market,” says Arvind Ramachandran, who represents architects at the Academic Engineers and Architects in Finland TEK.
The problem has also been recognised at the EU level. Earlier this year, the European Commission presented a proposal for a Directive to improve working conditions for trainees. The aim of the Directive is to combat practices where unpaid internships replace permanent jobs.
According to Executive Director Kalle Euro from the Association of Finnish Architects’ Offices, the use of unpaid internships distorts competition.
“Competition must be fair in order for responsible, quality-focused architects’ offices to thrive. The sector faces a labour shortage in the coming years. We need to get the top talent to enter the industry and also to stay in the industry. This can be done if the working conditions are right,” says Euro.
If the work performed by an intern is equivalent to normal work and fulfils the criteria for an employment relationship, the employer is legally obligated to pay the person a salary, regardless of whether the person is doing an internship or not.
“The positive image of the Finnish architecture sector is based on the value of professional skill. By paying salaries to interns, the sector shows that it values the skills obtained through demanding education. The employer also benefits from this policy, because a person who receives compensation for their work is motivated to perform well,” says Arja Lukin, Secretary General at the Finnish Association of Architects (SAFA).