Can ethnic discrimination be intervened?
The Ombudsman for Minorities intervenes in cases where the discriminating party is either an authority or a public or private service provider, the state, a municipality or a business enterprise.
- Access to general or vocational education, including advanced vocational training and retraining and vocational guidance For example, the student selection criteria, grading system and discipline of pupils and students must not be discriminatory.
- Social and health services A municipality may not treat people differently on the basis of ethnic origin for example, when organising social work, day care for children, hospital care and occupational safety and health services.
- Social security benefits or other benefits granted on social grounds, rebate or Advantages Examples of these social security benefits include sickness and unemployment allowance, living allowance and student financial aid.
- Access to and supply of goods and services Services mean, for example, installation or repair work, storage, transportation, education and guidance for some other person and, for example, housing services. Ethnic origin may not be used as a basis for restricting financial services (such as credits) or restaurant services.
- The performance of military service, women’s voluntary military service or non-military service With regard to military service, anyone who has been granted Finnish citizenship is in the same position as those who are Finnish citizens by birth.
A mere statement is not a sufficient basis for the claim. The victim of discrimination must present concrete information on the basis of which it can be presumed that he or she has been exposed to discrimination.
The Equality act also prohibits all forms of discrimantion in relation to working and employment conditions and recruitment conditions. Monitoring of work discrimination is the responsibility of the Occupational Safety and Health Inspectorates (see www.suojelu.fi).
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