Nail salon exploitation in Finland has sparked quiet outrage as reports surface about illegal job selling, forced labor conditions, and underpaid workers operating behind the scenes of the country’s booming beauty industry. While the storefronts shine with polish and professionalism, what happens behind closed doors tells a much darker story.
A Vietnamese man who goes by the name Bao has spent years working inside Finland’s nail salon scene. He recently decided to speak out, telling Finnish broadcaster Yle that some salons operate as more than just beauty businesses. “I want people to understand that this is not fair to anyone trying to earn an honest living,” Bao said. He requested anonymity, saying there could be consequences within his own community for revealing the truth.
According to Bao and others who know the industry well, certain salon owners charge up to €25000 for a work contract. This money is often paid up front or through informal means. “Just a few of these deals can bring in over €100000,” Bao said.
The people paying these sums are mostly recent immigrants who hope to build a new life in Finland. After paying for the job, many end up working for years with little or no real income. Some receive meals and shared housing, but not much else. Because their immigration status often depends on the job, they remain quiet and avoid any conflict.
Lan, another Vietnamese salon worker, also shared her experience. She explained that some employees appear to earn a legal wage on paper, but in reality, they are forced to hand back a portion of their income in cash. It is a way for business owners to make everything look clean during inspections while still keeping control.
Lan eventually closed her own nail salon after realizing she could not keep up with competitors using these unfair tactics. “I tried to run my business legally, but the prices others were offering did not make sense,” she said.
In some places, a full gel nail treatment costs less than €20. But when you consider rent, supplies, and wages, the numbers do not add up. In contrast, similar services in other parts of the country can cost more than €70.
Bao and Lan said these jobs are not advertised openly. Instead, they are shared through Vietnamese-language Facebook groups and private messages. Phrases like “help with housing” or “support with residence permit” are often used to attract student workers or recent arrivals.
There is no official paperwork to show the job deals, but both sources said it is a well-known system. Many in the community are aware of it, yet very few speak up. Those who do risk being isolated or even threatened.
Despite growing awareness, very few police investigations have moved forward. The first known conviction for human trafficking involving a nail salon in Finland happened years ago, but no similar cases have reached court since.
Nils Majewski, a superintendent with the Helsinki police, told Yle’s MOT program that the cases are hard to prove. “We often get vague or anonymous tips. What we need is direct information from the people involved,” he said.
Majewski acknowledged that some of the practices described may fall under labor exploitation or even trafficking laws. However, unless someone comes forward and speaks directly to investigators, it is nearly impossible to take legal action.
He also said that paying money for a job sometimes called a “threshold payment” is not unusual for workers coming from outside the EU. Still, this does not make it legal, and Finnish police encourage anyone with solid evidence to report it.
Bao said that one way to expose the wrongdoing would be through financial records. He believes that if authorities looked closely at bookkeeping and transactions, they would quickly realize that the income does not match the services being offered.
“They are not running real businesses,” Bao said. “It is just a way to make money off people who are desperate.”
For now, many continue working in silence. The nails get done. The storefronts stay open. But the cost behind the scenes is far more than most customers ever imagine.
