Skip to content
Media
Valtioneuvosto frontpage

New website provides overall picture of grey economy and economic crime in Finland

Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment
Publication date 22.5.2018 15.01 | Published in English on 24.5.2018 at 9.58
News item

A new website on the grey economy and economic crime, www.grey-economy-crime.fi, has been published. For the first time, all public material concerning the grey economy and economic crime in Finland is now available on a single website. The website is maintained as a collaborative effort of several authorities. The Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment is one of the participating authorities.

In Finland, several authorities participate in the work against the grey economy and economic crime, and the extent of this cooperation and exchange of information is unique also by international standards. The Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment is one of the authorities engaged in this cooperation.

All information related to this topic is now available on a single website. The aim is to improve society's opportunities to react rapidly to the phenomena and consequences of the grey economy and economic crime.

"Cooperation between the Finnish authorities and ministries works well, but there is always room for some improvement. Legislation must support authorities in their supervisory duties. In the success of projects in the construction sector, cooperation with organisations has had a particularly important role, says Päivi Kantanen from the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment. 

Prevention is everyone's responsibility

The new website provides information on topical phenomena in the field of grey economy and economic crime, on the extent of the phenomena, and on measures to combat them. Furthermore, the website provides citizens and companies with information on how to act correctly and protect oneself from the harms that the grey economy and economic crime may cause.

One of the purposes of the website is also to remind that combating the grey economy and economic crime is everyone's responsibility and benefits all: authorities, companies and citizens.

"When drafting legislation and planning different projects, the grey economy and its prevention must be taken into consideration. The reform of the Act on Public Procurement and Concession Contracts, the reform of the oversight of auditors, and the legislation governing working life, posted workers and contractor's liability are of significance in our efforts to combat the grey economy," says Päivi Kantanen.

"In the administrative branch of the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment, the grey economy is prevented for example through the activities of the Competition and Consumer Authority, the Patents and Registration Authority, and Employment and Economic Development Offices. The Finnish Funding Agency for Innovation (Tekes) checks applicants' background information in its financing activities."

Companies have an ever-increasing amount of cross-border activities, both within the EU and globally. Kantanen also reminds that Finland is committed to EU cooperation and to the prevention of undeclared work. This calls for cross-border cooperation between the authorities of different Member States. Learning from other countries' best practices requires, however, an active approach.

www.grey-economy-crime.fi

 
Back to top