1. Brief Description of Anti-Discrimination Laws The Employment Contracts Act, the Non-Discrimination Act and the Criminal Code (39/1889) set out the main statutory provisions prohibiting discrimination. In addition, the Act on Equality between Women and Men lays down provisions on gender equality. 2. Extent of Protection The employer has a general obligation to treat all […]
Citizens of the EU, Norway, Iceland, Switzerland and Liechtenstein can work in Finland without a residence permit for employed persons. Citizens of other than the aforementioned countries usually need a residence permit based on employment in order to work in Finland. The permit is usually applied for at the Finnish diplomatic representation in the applicant’s […]
1. Employees’ Rights As a member of the European Union, Finland is required to comply with the Council Directive 2001/23/EC on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to the safeguarding of employees’ rights in the event of transfers of undertakings, businesses or parts of undertakings or businesses, and observe the rulings […]
1. Brief Description of Employees’ and Employers’ Organizations The trade unions and employer organisations enter into collective bargaining agreements and agree on collective salary increases, as well as take part in the tripartite negotiations regarding labour policy questions such as pension entitlement issues. There are three main levels of trade unions: Local trade unions, national […]
1. Minimum Requirements Finnish law does not include rules on the form of an employment agreement. Therefore, written and oral employment agreements are equally valid. However, a simple written employment agreement is the most typical form, and also the recommended form, as it may be difficult for the employer to prove what has been agreed […]
The Act on the Protection of Privacy in Working Life sets specific provisions on the processing of personal data of employees and applies also, as appropriate, to job applicants. The employer is only allowed to process personal data directly necessary for the employee’s employment relationship. No exceptions can be made to this requirement, even with […]
1. Definition of Restrictive Covenants The employee is by law prohibited from engaging in competing activity causing apparent harm to the employer such as working for a competing company during the employment relationship. The employer and the employee may also agree on non-competition restrictions. 2. Types of Restrictive Covenants a. Non-Compete Clauses A non-compete covenant […]
1. Can the employer restrict the employee’s use of Internet and social media during working hours? The employer is entitled to forbid or restrict the employee’s use of internet and social media based on the employer’s general right to direct work. The employer may as well technically block certain websites in order to prevent the […]
1. Legal Framework The Finnish social security system includes the following schemes: Social security Pension insurance Accident insurance Unemployment insurance 2. Required Contributions The employer is accountable for both the employer’s and the employee’s part of the contributions and shall deduct the contributions from the employee’s salary. Social security; the employer is required to make […]
1. Grounds for Termination Pursuant to the general provision of the Employment Contracts Act in relation to terminating employment relationships, the termination of employment contracts always requires proper and weighty reasons. In addition to termination based on reasons arising from the employee, employment contracts may be terminated by the employer due to substantial and permanent […]
1. Minimum Working Conditions The rules regarding the terms and conditions of employment are stipulated in both statutory law and the applicable collective bargaining agreement – if any. In particular, collective bargaining agreements provide more specifically the minimum terms and conditions of employment, which include, amongst others: arrangements of working time, minimum wages, protection against […]
