A Finnish court hears a human trafficking trial involving 62 Thai berry pickers. This case exposes allegations of exploitative labor practices and poor working conditions in Finland’s berry industry. The ongoing trial in the Lapland District Court attracts significant attention to the recruitment and treatment of foreign seasonal workers.
The case focuses on Kalyakorn “Durian” Phongpit, a Thai national and coordinator for the berry pickers, and Vernu Vasunta, CEO of the Finnish berry company Kiantama. Prosecutors allege that the pair subjected the workers to forced labor, poor living conditions, and unreasonably low wages. If convicted, both defendants face prison sentences of 3 to 4 years.
One worker testified that after harvesting 3,500 kilograms of berries, they earned only €115. Additionally, workers described inadequate food provisions that caused significant weight loss during the season. They misled the pickers about the earning potential. “I thought I would earn enough to bring home savings. I wouldn’t have come if I had known the reality,” said one picker.
The prosecution argues that the workers signed contracts they could not understand, pressuring them to meet unrealistic daily quotas. If they failed, they faced financial losses. Conversely, the defense claims some workers underperformed due to inexperience or misrepresentation during recruitment. Phongpit noted, “We were told they were experienced, but many had no prior experience.”
Vasunta stated that external factors, such as police intervention during harvest time and unauthorized sales by some workers, affected earnings. The court also learned that living conditions at picking camps were substandard, featuring inadequate food and poor facilities. Workers reported that they could not read or question contracts signed in Thailand, which forced them to cover travel and accommodation costs regardless of earnings.
The trial is expected to continue until March. Meanwhile, Phongpit faces additional charges in another human trafficking case involving 78 workers for a different berry company, Polarica. That trial will begin in May. Labour activists argue that this case reflects broader issues within Finland’s berry industry, which heavily relies on seasonal migrant workers.
Source: Helsinki Times
This trial highlights the exploitation of Thai berry pickers, calling for more ethical labor practices and fair treatment.