The Association of Finnish Architects’ Offices (ATL), the Finnish Association of Architects (SAFA) and the Academic Engineers and Architects in Finland (TEK) are concerned about the arrival of unpaid internships in Finland.
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 Panel of Working Architects TAR in TEK.
Ramachandran points out that employers benefit from the work done by employees, so it is only fair that employees are paid in return. If the work performed by an intern is equivalent to normal work and fulfils the criteria for an employment relationship, the employer is obligated to pay the person a salary.
"Unpaid work is part of the grey economy; its use distorts competition to the detriment of companies that operate ethically. Few people have the financial means to accept unpaid work or an unpaid internship. Fair compensation guarantees that the best talent can bring their skills and creativity to the sector. Good working conditions ensure that top talent will stay in the profession," Ramachandran says.