Ombudsman for Equality

Suspected cases of discrimination in job and
training course advertisements

Compensation is not awarded under the Finnish Equality Act for discrimination in job and training course advertisements.

Any suspected cases of discriminatory job advertisements should be reported to the Finnish Ombudsman for Equality or to occupational health and safety authorities:

• The Finnish Ombudsman for Equality can refer cases involving discriminatory advertisements to the Finnish Equality Board. The Finnish Equality Board can prohibit further discriminatory advertising, if necessary, under penalty of a fine.
• Occupational health and safety authorities can indict the employer or a representative of the same for violating the prohibition of discrimination in the workplace under the Criminal Code of Finland.

Other parties responsible for publishing discriminatory job advertisements may be held criminally liable under the general discrimination provisions of the Criminal Code of Finland.

Any suspected cases of discriminatory training course advertisements should be reported to the Finnish Ombudsman for Equality, who can

• refer cases to the Finnish Equality Board. The Finnish Equality Board can prohibit further discriminatory advertising, if necessary, under penalty of a fine.

The Finnish Ombudsman for Equality can also refer cases to the public prosecutor, who can bring charges on the basis of the penal provisions of the Finnish Equality Act.