Indicator history

In cases of ethnic discrimination outside employment, the Ombudsman for Minorities: 1) offers guidance and advice, makes recommendations or devises initiatives to ensure discrimination is not continued or repeated; 2) takes measures to achieve reconciliation between the parties involved; 3) requests the authority or entrepreneur suspected of discrimination to provide clarification of the matter; 4) can impose a penalty payment if the authority or person suspected of discrimination does not provide clarification; and 5) can take the case to the National Discrimination Tribunal of Finland.

The National Discrimination Tribunal of Finland is an independent organ promoting legal protection. A decision by the tribunal has the same legal effect as a judgement by a general court of law. The tribunal may examine cases of discrimination based on ethnic origin, except those involving supervision of the prohibition of discrimination in employment and public service. It may confirm conciliated settlements between parties or prohibit any continued or repeated behaviour that infringes the prohibition of discrimination or reprisals. The Tribunal may also impose conditional fines to enforce compliance with its decisions, and order a payment of these fines. A court of law, the Ombudsman for Minorities, other public authorities or voluntary associations may request the opinion of the tribunal on the application of the Non-Discrimination Act to any matter of ethnic discrimination. The Tribunal does not have the authority to revise the decisions of other public authorities.

Discrimination in employment and public service – including recruitment, working conditions, terms of employment, traineeships and career advancement – is supervised by the Occupational Health and Safety Authority. It may receive communications from employees, and carry out on-site inspections in the private sector, and if it considers that there are probable grounds to suspect that discrimination, as defined in the Criminal Code, has taken place, it must report the case to a public prosecutor. In case there are probable grounds to suspect that discrimination, as defined in the Non-Discrimination Act, has taken place, it will issue guidance to the employer and advice the victim of his options.