Considering the changes in working conditions, this topic seems worthy of journalistic coverage.
We recently saw news reports about four-legged robots patrolling Finnish construction sites, analyzing workers’ efficiency. Now, the time has come for these findings to be applied in practice. Finnish construction workers are now divided into two groups – those working on an hourly wage and those working on a piecework basis.
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Previously, construction companies favored piecework since it produced tangible results: workers were motivated by earning wages based on completed work, which in turn increased productivity. Hourly wages were typically reserved for jobs where output could not be measured in specific units.
As an active construction worker myself, I listened carefully to the briefing at a new worksite, where timed work sequences were introduced. Each team of specialists was given a set timeframe to complete their tasks, with subsequent teams relying on these deadlines to maintain workflow continuity.
Essentially, workers are no longer asked how fast they can complete a given number of square meters—rather, they are given a deadline by which they must finish. This approach effectively turns hourly wage work into piecework, just without the corresponding incentives.
Benefits for the Company:
✅ More efficient use of time
✅ Increased work efficiency
✅ Reduced labor costs
✅ Higher profit margins
Drawbacks for the Worker:
❌ Financial loss
❌ Increased workload without extra pay
❌ Must keep up with deadlines to avoid delaying subsequent tasks
In essence, workers are now being enslaved by time to maximize company profits, while the pace of work accelerates without additional compensation. In a traditional piecework system, payment structures were clear and transparent, but in the current model, workers are the ones losing out, while employers reap the benefits.
The excuse that “at least we have jobs” does not justify the situation—it only highlights how economic downturns, caused by complex geopolitical circumstances, are being exploited by employers.
Are we working just for the sake of working, or to earn a fair wage?
Work should not endanger a worker’s health and well-being without proper compensation.
I understand that work processes must be optimized with new systems, but workers should not bear the financial burden. Employers must curb their greed and align hourly wages with piecework rates.
When workers struggle, employers will eventually feel the impact as well—this is why workers demand that fast-paced hourly wage work be equated to the piecework system to ensure fair compensation.
/Mario Maripuu, editor and host at www.eestieest.com, (for now) a furniture installer/
