Russia's decision to restrict crossings at certain railway border gates with Finland, Latvia, and Estonia has triggered an employment crisis in Finland's customs sector. More than 100 customs employees in the east of the country were forced onto unpaid leave after Russia closed its checkpoints.
Pekka Naski, Deputy Chief Official of the Finnish Customs Employees' Union, expressed concern that layoffs could occur if the situation drags on. "In the worst-case scenario, we are worried that the prolonged situation will lead to layoffs," Naski said.
According to a report by the Yle broadcasting company, personnel at the Nuijamaa and Imatra border crossings were most affected by the closures. After the Finnish government closed land border crossings in 2023, customs services had preserved employment thanks to the processing of freight trains at Vainikkala, Niirala, and the Hamina-Kotka port. However, with the halt of freight transport between Finland and Russia, this area has also come under threat.
Union official Pekka Naski noted that open positions are mostly located in Helsinki or the west of the country, but that relocating is difficult for employees living on the eastern border.
The border between Finland and Russia remains closed until further notice by decision of the Finnish authorities. Finland began imposing restrictions on border crossings in November 2023. During this period, Finnish cities that relied on tourist flows have started to experience economic difficulties, and businesses in the region have begun to close.
The Russian government decided to restrict crossings at certain railway border gates with Finland, Latvia, and Estonia starting July 1. The restricted points include Vyborg and Svetogorsk in the Leningrad region, Värtsilä and Lütta in the Republic of Karelia, Finlyandskiy in St. Petersburg, and Pechory-Pskovskiye and Pytalovo in the Pskov region.
