From India and the Philippines to Vaasa – Sujith and Joel Feel Right at Home at Uwira

Uwira, which has long promoted diversity in its work community, currently employs people from 16 different nationalities. When employees come from dozens of cultural and language backgrounds, special attention must be paid to areas like onboarding processes and the equal treatment of employees. We spoke with Sujith Vasudevan and Joel Vicentillo, who have worked at Uwira as welders for a few months, and asked how their settling into Finland – and into Uwira – has gone.

Sujith Vasudevan, originally from India, and Joel Vicentillo, originally from the Philippines, have both lived abroad for several years. They've each lived in Finland for about two years, with the past few months spent in Vaasa and at Uwira.

"Vaasa is a really nice city – the atmosphere here is friendlier than in, say, Helsinki. Finland overall is an amazing country. I would especially highlight the safety – you can walk around alone even at night, and kids can ride their bikes to school...we've been really happy. It is cold here, but we've lived in Europe before, so it's not an issue," says Sujith, who now lives in Finland with his wife and two children.

"Finland is our future. I'm happy I was able to bring my wife here as well. Finland is an especially good country for families," Joel adds. 

Supportive colleagues, safety, and quality tools contribute to successful onboarding 

Both men describe their first months at Uwira as successful. Uwira has handled the onboarding process well, and the work itself comes with both support and a good degree of independence.

"People at Uwira are friendly. If you don't know something or need help, it's always available. Everyone has been really helpful, and I'm learning a lot all the time. At the same time, the work atmosphere isn't stressful – we have room to learn and develop without excessive pressure," Sujith says.

Both men also highlight Uwira's tools, machines, and safety standards. According to them, safety always comes first at the factory – the necessary tools are close at hand, machines are safe and high quality, and safety practices are followed.

"We're provided with all the necessary equipment and gear. Safety is the number one priority at Uwira, and they invest in it more than elsewhere."

Joel says Finnish companies are the best workplaces.

"Here, the working hours are reasonable, there's paid vacation, pension… in addition to safety and the friendliness of people, there are many concrete benefits. I'm grateful for the opportunity to work in Finland," Joel says.

A friendly and welcoming atmosphere – all the way up to management 

One of the most important observations for Sujith and Joel during their first months has been the positive atmosphere at Uwira.

"When you come to work in the morning, everyone greets you and says good morning. That feels really nice. The friendly atmosphere doesn't just apply to coworkers, but also to the Managing Director and the rest of the management. I believe I'll enjoy working at Uwira for a long time. At Uwira, you can feel welcome regardless of your nationality," Sujith says.

"I would definitely recommend Uwira as a workplace, and I've already told a couple of friends about the company. I'm happy to be part of this team and grateful to Uwira for the opportunity," Joel concludes.

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