Frequently asked questions

The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry and Ministry of Social Affairs and Health have given recommendations to water supply plants, municipal health protection authorities supervising these and Centres for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment to secure water supply and sanitation during the coronavirus epidemic. 

According to current knowledge, it is not considered likely that the new coronavirus could spread via drinking water. The virus is also not considered to cause any particular risks to those working at wastewater treatment plants. 

The instructions do not mean any new obligations to water supply plants but their preparedness is based on the current legislation, mainly the Water Services Act and Health Protection Act. 

The Water Services Act obliges water supply plants to ensure access to water supply and sanitation services for properties in emergency situations as well. Water supply plants must draw up plans on their preparedness for disruptions and keep these up to date, and take the necessary measures on the basis of the plans. 

According to the Health Protection Act, health protection authorities must cooperate with other authorities and agencies and draw up a plan to prepare for disruptions affecting the environment where the people live. 

The functioning of water supply and sanitation must be secured to be able to maintain the basic functions of society also during the state of emergency caused by the coronavirus epidemic. Especially large population centres and operations that require a lot of clean water, such as those in healthcare centres, hospitals and food industry, are highly vulnerable to any disruptions in water supply and sanitation services. 

If the epidemic caused by the coronavirus expands, it is important that water supply plants and municipalities, together with the other water supply plants of the region, authorities and key customers using water services, make sure that their plans for disruptions and the instructions included in these are up to date. 

A situation that may threaten the functioning of water supply and sanitation is one where a large percentage of the staff falls ill at the same time. This is why water supply plants are urged to ensure sufficient resources for managing the critical water supply and sanitation tasks, making use of the plans for disruptions. 

Water supply plants are also urged to prepare for possible disruptions in the operations of service providers, including laboratories and suppliers of chemicals. 

Inquiries: 
Jarkko Rapala, Ministerial Adviser, Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, tel. +358 2951 63315, firstname.lastname(at)stm.fi 
Katri Vasama, Ministerial Adviser, Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Natural Resources and Water Management Unit, tel. +358 50 595 5317, firstname.lastname(at)mmm.fi 

According to current knowledge, the virus is not transmitted via food, including fish. This means that the primary producers and processors of fish and operators in the supply chains can work as usually, as long as they take particular care of hygiene and of the preservation of fish. Consumers can also use fish and fish products as normally. A key issue for both operators in the fisheries sector and consumers is that the precautionary measures to prevent the spread of the virus are followed with care. It is important to maintain a functioning and viable value chain for fish so that we will have fish and fish products available also in future. Read more about the coronavirus and food on the website of the Finnish Food Authority (in Finnish). Read more about support for the fisheries sector available under the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund and State aid schemes on the website of the Maritime and Fisheries Network at merijakalatalous.fi/en/. 

The new coronavirus is transmitted directly from human to human. According to current knowledge, there is no evidence that the SARS-CoV-2 virus would spread or be transmitted to humans via food or via pets or farmed animals. E.g. in Belgium, France and Germany pets that have been in close contact with humans suffering from the coronavirus disease COVID-19, especially cats, have been reported as infected with the virus. In some cases the cats had shown no symptoms of the disease. Pets are considered to have no role in spreading the disease, but in all cases the virus had been transmitted from humans. Despite these quite rare and isolated cases considering the extent of the pandemic, pets can and must be cared for in the same way as usually, taking care of regular, good hand hygiene.

Besides pets, minks on four mink farms in the Netherlands have been found to carry the disease. In all these cases staff members caring for the animals had shown respiratory symptoms indicative of COVID-19.

Based on genetic analyses, it has been concluded that the coronavirus COVID-19 would originate from bats because its close relative has been found in Rhinolophus bat (horseshoe bat) populations. Studies on how the coronavirus was transmitted to humans are under way. The hypothesis is that the coronavirus would first have been transmitted from bats to an intermediate host where it had mutated into one that can be transmitted to humans.

Read more:
UN Food and Agriculture Organization FAO

The National Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) has put together instructions on things you can do to curb the spread of the coronavirus.

THL: Transmission and protection – coronavirus

It is advisable to seek information about the use and availability of medicines from reliable sources and follow the information and instructions provided by the authorities. The website of the Finnish Medicines Agency Fimea contains frequently asked questions and answers concerning medicines and the coronavirus.

• Frequently asked questions (in Finnish) (fimea.fi)

All instructions, recommendations and decisions issued by the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health are published on the Ministry’s website at www.stm.fi.

• Guidelines of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health for the prevention of coronavirus

We can and must still go to forest and enjoy the coming spring in our natural environment. However, we may wish to avoid the most popular hiking destinations and give preference e.g. to a forest close to our home. On Metsähallitus website, you will find guidance for hikers relating to the coronavirus. Metsähallitus wishes to remind that the same rules apply in the natural environment as in urban areas and shopping centres:  two-metre safety distance and good hand hygiene is always required, including in campfire and rest sites.

See also Nationalparks.fi: Guidelines Concerning Coronavirus

 

 

The coronavirus is primarily transmitted as a droplet and contact infection when a person coughs or sneezes. The experts consider it unlikely that the coronavirus infection would be transmitted via waste when regular good waste management practices are complied with. Outside the human body, the viability and transmission capacity of the virus weakens rapidly and the virus does not multiply in waste.

Finnish institute for health and welfare: Frequently asked questions about coronavirus

The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health has issued a decision ordering those working in close contact with clients to wear a mask in social welfare units providing 24-hour care and in home care services.

The aim is to protect clients with an elevated risk of becoming seriously ill from coronavirus (COVID-19).

If surgical nose-mouth masks are not available, the staff must wear washable or disposable fabric masks or visors covering their faces.

Seasonal employees who are in an employment relationship with a Finnish employer have the right to use Finland’s public healthcare services in the same way as other municipal residents, regardless of whether they come from a member state of the European Union or from outside the EU. Seasonal employees pay the regular client fees for using public healthcare services. Care and treatment of generally hazardous communicable diseases, including testing and care related to the coronavirus, is free of charge. 

Having arrived in Finland, seasonal employees should contact the Social Insurance Institution Kela without delay. Kela establishes their right to healthcare and issues a certificate concerning this to the employees, to be presented when using public healthcare services. If authorised by the seasonal employee, the employer may also request Kela to establish the employees’ right to healthcare. If a seasonal employee who does not have this certificate becomes ill, public healthcare services may also contact Kela to establish the person’s right to healthcare.

A seasonal employee who uses private healthcare services, buys prescription medicines or has travel expenses relating to care for illness may apply to Kela for reimbursement. Kela issues a health insurance card (Kela card) to employees covered under the National Health Insurance (NHI) scheme of Finland. 

The use of masks in schools or in early childhood education and care is not generally recommended, but you can use one if you wish, taking into account the instructions for its use.

Ensure that children or adults who are ill do not attend early childhood education and care. It is also important to ensure that staff and children are not moved between groups and sites. Avoid forming large groups. Follow strict hygiene routines in early childhood education.

The provider of early childhood education and care is responsible for ensuring the safety of children and employees. The measures education providers should take include enhanced cleaning, reducing group sizes and forming permanent groups of staff and children.

No, it doesn't. Parents will make their own arrangements with their employers for returning to work. Early childhood education and care is open to all children and, according to an epidemiological forecast, it will be safe to attend after 13 May 2020.

You will find information on the EU's response on the website of the Council of the European Union.

Coronavirus outbreak and the EU's response

The European Union will continue its activities during the exceptional circumstances and will adapt its activities and decision-making as required by the situation. 

Activities of the EU during the COVID-19 pandemic | vnk.fi

• Article 5 of Decision No 1082/2013/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council on serious cross-border threats to health lays down the legal basis for the Agreement.
• The Agreement was concluded in 2014. At the time, 19 Member States acceded to the Agreement.
• Finland did not join the Agreement, but it has had an observer status from the very start.
• Finland signed the Agreement in Brussels on 27 March 2020. This spring Sweden and Poland, as well as Norway and Iceland of the countries belonging to the European Economic Area (EEA), have also joined the Agreement.
• The purpose of the Agreement is to strengthen the purchasing power of the Parties and to secure more equitable access to specific medical countermeasures, such as supplies, equipment, medicines and vaccines, and an improved security of supply, together with more balanced prices.
• The Agreement determines the general structures of joint procurement procedures and the practices to be applied in conducting procurements.
• By signing a framework contract, Member States do not commit themselves to making procurements. Those are made through a separate agreement procedure and a competitive tendering process.

Prior to Finland’s accession to the Agreement, four different procurement processes were launched in spring 2020:

1) gloves and surgical gowns, 2) personal protective equipment for eye and respiratory protection, 3) medical ventilators and respiratory equipment, and 4) laboratory equipment.

• Finland cannot take part in the procurement processes that were launched prior to its accession to the Agreement. There are also other European countries that are not involved in the ongoing processes.
• It is likely, however, that new processes will be launched. Finland may, if it so wishes, take part in them.
• Finland and certain other countries have already expressed to the Commission their interest in taking part in any new joint procurements concerning personal protective equipment.
• The Commission is also preparing a joint procurement process concerning experimental medical treatments for COVID-19.
• At present, a joint procurement procedure in line with the Agreement does not seem to be a particularly quick way of purchasing personal protective equipment. The market situation is difficult and the delivery times for products are long. Other channels are faster. None of the Member States has received equipment or other products purchased through joint procurement.

• Finland has well-functioning emergency and obligatory stockpiling systems in place. For this reason, Finland did not consider it necessary to join the Agreement.
• It was thought earlier that the Agreement would be applied to the procurement of vaccines in particular. Finland has managed to procure the vaccines included in the national vaccination programme relatively inexpensively compared to many other European Union countries.
• A joint procurement process under the Agreement was seen to be complicated and relatively slow.
• In the beginning, the Agreement was not considered to guarantee favourable agreement terms or the availability and security of supply of products.
• Finland has, from the start, been involved in the joint procurement procedure as an observer and taken an active role in monitoring the progress made in the process and the experiences gained from the process.

• Finland began to examine the possibility of joining the Agreement in February 2020. This was a collaborative effort by a number of ministries.
• From a legal point of view, the issue is complex, because the nature of the Agreement is very unusual.
• It was necessary to examine, for example, whether Parliament would need to approve accession to the Agreement.

Based on the current development of the disease and the epidemiological forecast, it will be safe for children to attend contact teaching.

Children often have very mild symptoms of the coronavirus, and children’s infections have often been associated with those of the adults in the family. According to current information, children are not a significant group in terms of the spread of the epidemic; in other words, they are not as infectious as other groups. 

The Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare and the Ministry of Education and Culture have issued instructions for the providers of comprehensive school education and early childhood education and care to enable the safe return of children to school.

If a pupil or their family member belongs to a risk group, the attending doctor will assess whether the pupil can return to school or early childhood education.

Cases of severe COVID-19 are very rare in children and the risk of severe cases has not risen in healthy children and adolescents whose underlying health condition is under therapeutic control. Those at risk of contracting a severe case of COVID-19 comprise children whose underlying condition generally causes an increased risk of serious infections.

For those working in schools and early childhood education, the measures are based on a risk assessment carried out by the employer. Occupational healthcare supports the employer in the risk assessment.

The arrangements in all school premises will be made so that there are fewer children in them at one and the same time. If necessary, empty teaching facilities (e.g. secondary education institutions) can be used for this purpose.

In primary schools, the teaching groups will be kept separate throughout the school day. In lower secondary schools and in optional subjects, the teaching group may change if it is not possible to hold the lessons any other way.

If it is not possible to keep teaching groups separate, for example in lower secondary schools, effort should be made to ensure physical distancing arrangements and to stagger teaching as far as possible.

No regulations on safe distances between people have been issued. Groups do not need to be divided; instead, areas should be organised with more physical distancing between people.

Under the Assembly Act, activities in school and early childhood education and care do not constitute a general meeting or public event. The activities are not subject to any restrictions on assembly.

The regulations on group sizes and staffing sizes are in force as enacted in the legislation on basic education and on early childhood education and care. Groups larger than usual, such as combined groups consisting of several teachers, should be avoided in early childhood education, pre-primary education and schools.

School meals are to be arranged individually with the students’ own class or group; no joint meals in the lunchroom. However, the lunchroom can be used in turns. Proper hygiene when preparing and distributing food as well as during school meals should be ensured. In addition, break times can be staggered, for example.

The education providers will issue more detailed instructions on practical arrangements to meet the needs of each school.

The use of masks in schools or in early childhood education and care is not generally recommended, but you can use one if you wish, taking into account the instructions for its use.

If a child becomes ill during the day, the symptomatic child must be immediately transferred to a separate space accompanied by an adult to wait for the arrival of the parent or carer. Adults must avoid close contact with the sick child by maintaining sufficient physical distance. Those who have symptoms should contact their own health centre and take a coronavirus test as instructed by their health centre.

Teachers who fall ill during the day must leave the school premises. The education provider must take the necessary measures to continue the interrupted teaching.

The person infected with COVID-19 must stay away from school or early childhood education and care for at least 14 days from the onset of symptoms, or for a longer period, if necessary, so that he or she has been asymptomatic for at least two days before returning to school or early childhood education and care.

The physician responsible for infectious diseases in the municipality or hospital district is responsible for investigating transmission chains. If someone in early childhood education and care, in school or in an educational institution is diagnosed with COVID-19, those who might possibly have been exposed to it are tracked down and quarantined for 14 days.

In the emergency conditions, the Government issued a recommendation to avoid contact teaching. This also applied to participation in activities organised before and after school and club activities. Once the recommendation was lifted, it became possible to take part in these activities as of 14 May. The safety of children and staff will be ensured in activities organised before and after school and in club activities.

Local authorities must continue to provide activities organised before and after school and club activities as of 14 May 2020 if they provided these services in the municipality before the outbreak of the COVID-19 epidemic.

To avoid unnecessary contact with others, the activities are divided into small groups of children according to the children’s own school class or teaching group. The activities of each small group are run and supervised by an adult appointed for the group. Apart from children and staff members, outsiders should avoid spending time in or around morning and afternoon activities and club activities. Each unit that provides activities before and after school or club activities should also advise parents, guardians and families to follow these guidelines.

In principle, the general restrictions on gatherings do not apply to teaching and other statutory activities of educational institutions. However, big events, such as graduation ceremonies and end-of-school events covering the entire educational institution, are not to be organised.

Schools can organise joint events for their own group. However, traditional school-wide spring fetes with guests cannot be held. The end of the school year is an important occasion, and for some students in comprehensive school, the end of school means moving to a new school or educational institution. Celebrations create a sense of communality and allows people to remember and appreciate all the work done together.

Education providers decide on when to hold celebrations.

The education providers of general upper secondary education and vocational education and training have issued a joint recommendation on the organisation of graduation ceremonies. Based on the recommendation, the educational institutions will send the spring 2020 graduation certificates by post to all those who have graduated from general upper secondary school or who have gained a qualification. Where local circumstances make it possible, educational institutions may organise a graduation ceremony using remote connections on Saturday 30 May and an open celebration at a safe time later in the autumn. The celebrations of all graduates and those with a qualification will take place at the same time.

The primary dates for the joint autumn ceremony is Friday, 28 August or Saturday, 29 August. If the festivities cannot be organised safely on these dates, those who graduated in spring 2020 can be invited to the Independence Day festivities, or the autumn term graduation or matriculation ceremonies in December.

Education and training providers decide whether they want to organise entrance exams or aptitude tests and any additional proof of competence. 

The Government recommends that education providers in general upper secondary education and vocational education refrain from organising entrance exams and aptitude tests requiring applicants to be physically present on the occasion, unless it is essential to hold such tests to ensure that student admissions take place in an appropriate manner. When entrance exams and aptitude tests are organised, special attention must be paid to preventing the spread of infections.

If necessary, entrance exams and aptitude tests may be replaced by additional evidence that does not require the presence of the applicant. Aptitude tests, interviews and other additional proof of competence must be conducted by telephone or via other remote connections, unless the physical presence of the applicant is absolutely necessary. This way it is possible to avoid the risk of infection caused by social contacts and travel.

When changes are made to the arrangement of entrance exams and aptitude tests, the non-discrimination of applicants and their protection under the law must be taken into account.

Last updated on 6 April 2020

Workplace training and traineeships that are organised outside the educational institution will continue if the workplace can do so and the education provider and employer deem the working environment safe for the student.

If there is a high risk of contracting the coronavirus in the workplace, it is recommended that workplace training be suspended and continue only after the risk no longer exists.

In the health care sector, it is worth bearing in mind that health care students might have to help out if there is a shortage of personnel in health care should the epidemic last long.

Education and training providers decide whether they want to organise entrance exams or aptitude tests and any additional proof of competence.

Education and training providers may choose not to organise entrance exams and aptitude tests if it is deemed expedient. Instead, other additional proof of competence that does not require the presence of the student in the same way as entrance exams and aptitude tests may be used as a basis for student selection if necessary.

Demonstrations may continue if the workplace can do so and the education provider and employer deem the demonstration environment safe for the student.

If there is a high risk of contracting the coronavirus in the workplace, it is recommended that demonstrations continue only after the risk no longer exists.

Financing will not be suspended; the payment of financing that has already been decided will continue as normal, as education and training have not been suspended. Student and performance data are recorded as normal, even though teaching is arranged in alternative ways instead of contact teaching. Student feedback is collected as before.

Upper secondary students are better equipped to study independently than pupils in primary school. However, some students in secondary school may also lack certain learning skills, self-management skills or motivation to study. It has been particularly difficult for students belonging to different language and cultural groups with students from migrant background and for students who need special support to adapt to distance learning and independent studies.

It is important to support the most vulnerable students in these emergency conditions. Special arrangements have been made to provide guidance and support so that special needs teachers, student and guidance counsellors, and social workers can be contacted remotely. Students from migrant background have also been sent tasks on paper by mail if they do not have computers with remote connections or are not accustomed to using a computer or other digital tools in their studies. Some education providers have organised small-scale service points in their premises, where students in need of support or students in need of study equipment have been able to drop by.

The need for supporting students will continue even after the emergency conditions are over. Over the next school year, extra effort will be needed to bridge the skills and learning gaps that are being created under these emergency conditions. This means additional investment in education, guidance and other support measures. This work is being prepared by the Ministry of Education and Culture.

In principle, the general restrictions on gatherings do not apply to teaching and other statutory activities of educational institutions. However, big events, such as graduation ceremonies and end-of-school events covering the entire educational institution, are not to be organised.

Schools can organise joint events for their own group. However, traditional school-wide spring fetes with guests cannot be held. The end of the school year is an important occasion, and for some students in comprehensive school, the end of school means moving to a new school or educational institution. Celebrations create a sense of communality and allows people to remember and appreciate all the work done together.

Education providers decide on when to hold celebrations.

The education providers of general upper secondary education and vocational education and training have issued a joint recommendation on the organisation of graduation ceremonies. Based on the recommendation, the educational institutions will send the spring 2020 graduation certificates by post to all those who have graduated from general upper secondary school or who have gained a qualification. Where local circumstances make it possible, educational institutions may organise a graduation ceremony using remote connections on Saturday 30 May and an open celebration at a safe time later in the autumn. The celebrations of all graduates and those with a qualification will take place at the same time.

The primary dates for the joint autumn ceremony is Friday, 28 August or Saturday, 29 August. If the festivities cannot be organised safely on these dates, those who graduated in spring 2020 can be invited to the Independence Day festivities, or the autumn term graduation or matriculation ceremonies in December.

The studies will be evaluated in the manner defined in the national curriculum and the local curriculum.

In some subjects, there might be grounds to organise the demonstration of competence in the premises of the educational institution. In such cases, the guidelines and instructions of the authorities should be followed. However, even in these cases it would be advisable to try to find remote solutions that would allow the creation of sustainable practices that can also be applied in the coming academic year. Assessments in the course of studies and at the end of studies must be carried out based on demonstrations and evidence that are as versatile as possible. The students are informed of the assessment procedures for each course at the beginning of each course. The basic premise is that courses that are generally assessed in numerical terms should continue to be assessed numerically.

The restrictions placed on vocational education and training institutions were lifted on 13 May 2020. Since then, in other words from 14 May 2020, the use of the premises in the educational institutions for teaching purposes are managed by measures governed by the Communicable Diseases Act and teaching is provided in accordance with the legislation on vocational education and training.

However, in its Government Resolution of 6 May 2020, the Government recommends that distance learning continue in vocational education and training until the end of the term (until the end of May). Education providers are the ones to decide how much contact teaching is needed. In the summer, contact teaching will be arranged in line with the guidelines on hygiene and physical distancing.

Where education providers consider it necessary to provide contact teaching in the situations referred to above or otherwise, they must take into account the recommendations and instructions of the authorities regarding the COVID-19 epidemic in order to ensure the health and safety of students and staff.

The need for supporting students will continue even after the emergency conditions are over. In the future, extra effort will be needed to bridge the skills and learning gaps that the emergency conditions created. This means additional investment in teaching, guidance and other support measures. This work is being prepared by the Ministry of Education and Culture.

Universities and universities of applied sciences have decided to make changes to the spring admissions procedure. Entrance examinations that could bring together a large number of applicants physically in the same space will not be held.

A change has been made to this summer’s student admissions schedule because more time is needed for organising and evaluating the entrance exams, which will be held as two-stage exams.

The original deadline for notifying the applicants of the admissions results was 8 July 2020. The time has been put forward by a week and the new deadline is 15 July 2020. Correspondingly, the deadlines for accepting an offer of admission and the deadline for filling waiting list places be put forward.

As in normal circumstances, applicants will be informed of the results ahead of the deadline as and when the results of the applications are completed and decisions on accepting offers are confirmed by the applicants.

• More detailed information on the COVID-19 situation and student admissions will be published on studyinfo.fi.

Higher education institutions, educational institutions and other organisations that provide exchange programmes and projects decide how, together with the organisations they cooperate with, to implement their international activities and agree on measures for both outgoing and incoming student mobility.

The higher education institutions and educational institutions are essentially the ones to make the decisions on postponing, suspending and reorganising student exchange periods. They must follow the official press releases, contact those participating in international projects and advise them to contact the Finnish Embassy or Consulate, if necessary, for further instructions.

The international activities of EU projects can be prematurely suspended, carried out with another partner, postponed to a later date or cancelled. Notice of cancellation or postponement must be given as soon as possible to the Finnish National Agency for Education, which gives advice on how to proceed.

It is possible to apply for compensation based on force majeure clauses for mobility periods and expenses financed by the national agency in Finland via the Erasmus Plus and the European Solidarity Corps programmes. Force majeure practices may vary from country to country. The national agency of the country financing the project is always the one to decide on the reimbursement of project costs. For this reason, it is essential that the coordinating organisation should direct the process in line with the instructions of the national agency financing the project.

For non-EU exchange programmes, contact the organisation providing the funding.

For more information, please first contact the international services of your educational institution.

The effects of the coronavirus on police operations | poliisi.fi

The board of directors of a limited liability company, a limited liability housing company and a cooperative and the executive committee of a registered association must prepare the financial statements by 30 June 2020 for the financial year that ended on 30 November 2019 at the earliest and on 29 February 2020 at the latest.

Published on 16 April 2020 at 16.50, updated 27 April 2020 at 11.00

The board of directors or the executive committee of a corporation is responsible for arranging and convening meetings. Shareholders and members can expect to receive information about meetings from the board of directors or the executive committee.

Published on 16 April 2020 at 16.50, updated 27 April 2020 at 11.00

Further information about the practical arrangements related to the postponement and holding of meetings, use of a representative, remote participation, and preparation of financial statements is provided by organisations for the different types of corporations and sectors, advisory bodies and other organisations, such as

• the Confederation of Finnish Industries (EK)
• the Finnish Chamber of Commerce (KKK)
• the Advisory Board of Finnish Listed Companies (operating in connection with the EK and the KKK)
• the Federation of Finnish Enterprises
• the Finnish Real Estate Federation
• the Finnish Real Estate Management Federation
• the Pellervo Coop Center
• the Finnish Federation for Social Affairs and Health SOSTE
• the Olympic Committee
• the Finnish National Youth Council Allianssi
• the Central Organisation of Finnish Trade Unions SAK
• the Finnish Association of Auditors.

Published on 17 April 2020 klo 15.00, updated 27 April 2020 at 11.05

The board of directors of a listed company may decide to allow remote participation or participation only by using a representative, if the meeting is held by 30 September 2020. The board of directors can decide that representatives will also participate remotely. In such a case, an opportunity for shareholders to request information, for the management to provide information, and for shareholders to propose a matter to be included on the agenda of the general meeting must be provided before the meeting and voting. Voting can be conducted in advance or during the meeting as remote voting. The notice of a general meeting to be submitted by a listed company must contain detailed instructions on the participation in the meeting, the manner and time of presenting questions and counter-proposals, and the publication of questions, proposals and the company's replies.

Published on 16 April 2020 at 17.00, updated 27 April 2020 at 10.55

A member of a cooperative has a statutory right to use a representative, even if it is prohibited by the rules, if the meeting is held by 30 September 2020.

The executive committee of an association may allow the use of representatives even if the rules of the association do not allow this, if the meeting is held by 30 September 2020. In practice, the executive committee may also set requirements concerning representatives, provided that they are justified and comply with the principle of equality. For example, the executive committee of a party association may, based on the purpose and activities of the association, require that a representative participating in a party conference be a member of a local organisation of the political party in question (Statement of Legal Affairs Committee 2/2020 vp and Report of Commerce Committee 8/2020 vp).

Published on 16 April 2020 at 17.00, updated 27 April at 10.55

The board of directors of a cooperative or the executive committee of an association can allow its members to participate remotely even in cases where the rules of the corporation explicitly prohibit or do not allow remote participation, if the meeting is held by 30 September 2020.

If some of the members do not have sufficient digital skills or a possibility for remote participation, the management of the cooperative or association must, in accordance with the duty of care, ensure that all members have in practice sufficient opportunities to participate in the decision-making taking place at the meeting of the association or cooperative. In such cases, it may be necessary to allow participation only by using a representative or remotely. If a member of an association does not have the necessary skills to use the selected means of remote participation, there may appear situations where the member has a ‘technical assistant’ present at the meeting, even if this is not expressly permitted under the Associations Act, because compliance with the restriction cannot in practice be monitored (Statement of Legal Affairs Committee 2/2020 vp).

It should be noted in the selection of the methods of participation and in the practical arrangement of meetings that it may not be possible to establish with certainty who actually attends a meeting remotely in addition to the members and possible representatives (Statement of Legal Affairs Committee 2/2020 vp).

The executive committee of an association must provide adequate procedural instructions for remote participation, including voting. For example, voting and election rules can be used as a model. The same applies to remote participation in a meeting of the delegates. The executive committee cannot, however, establish actual voting and election rules referred to in section 30 of the Associations Act (Statement of Legal Affairs Committee 2/2020 vp).

Even if practically all participants would participate in a meeting remotely, the meeting must nevertheless have a physical venue (Statement of Legal Affairs Committee 2/2020 vp).

Published on 16 April 2020 at 17.00, updated 27 April at 10.20

The statutory meetings of shareholders, members and delegates of corporations can be postponed and held by 30 September 2020. The Act entered into force May 1 2020. Invitations to meetings to be held after the entry into force of the Act, by utilising the methods of participation allowed by the Act, can already be sent.

The possibility of postponement applies not only to ordinary and regular meetings but also to continuation and extraordinary meetings, as well as to meetings approving a merger or a demerger in companies and cooperatives.

The board of directors of a cooperative and the executive committee of an association may require an advance notice of participation in a general meeting of the cooperative, a meeting of the association and a meeting of the delegates to be held by the end of September 2020.  This way, the board of directors or the executive committee will know the number of participants in advance and can arrange a meeting venue that complies with the health requirements and request those participating remotely to provide the necessary contact information. 

The possibility of combining the spring and autumn meetings of an association must be assessed on a case-by-case basis. This overall assessment must take into account at least the rules of the association, the types of matters to be decided, the health protection needs of the members of the association, and an assessment of whether the postponement would cause damage to the association or its members. The executive committee of an association is responsible for such an assessment and for convening a meeting (Statement of Legal Affairs Committee 2/2020 vp).

Published  on 16 April 2020 at 16.30, updated on 4 May 2020

The Regional State Administrative Agencies have published a wide range of questions and answers concerning gatherings and public events on their website.

• Regional State Administrative Agencies’ answers to questions about public events and public meetings (in Finnish)

The libraries will be opened in a controlled and gradual manner from 1 June 2020.

• Covid-19 and Finnish public libraries

The restrictions on gatherings with a maximum of 50 persons cover public gatherings organised in indoor and outdoor spaces, that is, public events and public meetings. Public meetings include demonstrations and other events that are open to all and that are organised to exercise the right of freedom of assembly. Public events include entertainment events, competitions, performances or other similar events that are open to the public. The Government recommends that people should comply with guidelines on safe distances and hygiene at these events as well.

However, the meetings and events referred to in the legislation do not include backyard games, use of public sports facilities or going to a shopping centre. Moreover, the restrictions do not apply to private events, such as private parties or private meetings. The Government recommends, however, that people do not organise private events for more than 50 persons. In all these situations, people should remember to keep a distance of two metres from other participants and to observe good hand hygiene and cough hygiene.

Public events and public meetings of more than 50 and a maximum of 500 persons in indoor and enclosed outdoor spaces can be organised under special arrangements. The Regional State Administrative Agencies require that such meetings and events must be organised in accordance with the guidelines on the prevention of coronavirus infections issued by the Ministry of Education and Culture and the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare on 14 May 2020 (available in Finnish and Swedish). Public events with more than 500 people are prohibited until 31 July.

The regulations of the Regional State Administrative Agencies are of a general nature and do not specify individual events. The organisers or operators of each event must independently assess how they will implement the regulations and recommendations concerning the limitation of the number of visitors, safe distances and hygiene instructions in practice, and they must ensure that the events and gatherings take place in such a way that the COVID-19 outbreak does not worsen.

Further information on the website of the Regional State Administrative Agencies (available in Finnish and Swedish)

The guidelines on the prevention of coronavirus infections issued by the Ministry of Education and Culture and the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (available in Finnish and Swedish)

The police are monitoring and overseeing the restrictions on gatherings imposed by the Regional State Administrative Agencies in accordance with their powers. The task of the police is to ensure that public meetings and public events are organised in compliance with the maximum number of participants and the Assembly Act. The police will not monitor compliance with hygiene instructions; instead, the organisers themselves must take measures to prevent the spread of coronavirus.

The police will not intervene in other occasional gatherings and private events, unless they pose a threat to public order and security. The role of the police is to maintain public order and security primarily through instructions, advice, requests and orders.

The primary task of the police is to maintain public order and security, and to ensure that everyone's fundamental and human rights are respected in emergency conditions.

The regulations on the restrictions on gatherings only apply to public meetings and public events. Therefore, an assembly violation expressly concerns the public meetings and public events referred to in the Assembly Act. A total of 10–20 unit fines (with the amount of one unit fine determined on a case-by-case basis) may be imposed for the violation.

For other occasional or private gatherings, the police always assess whether the gathering poses a danger to public order and security. The police have the right to command the crowd to disperse or move if the gathering poses a danger to public order and security. To enforce this, the police officer may issue orders that are punishable if they are not complied with. 

Theatres, orchestras, cultural venues and the Finnish National Opera will be opened in a controlled and gradual manner from 1 June 2020. Concerts, theatre performances and other events in the performing arts are public events subject to restrictive decisions taken by the Regional State Administrative Agency under the Communicable Diseases Act.

At all performances and events, the maximum limit of 50 attendees currently in force, or 500 attendees with special arrangements, must be observed. For outdoor events where there are several sections or demarcated areas intended for audiences, a total audience of more than 500 persons may be permitted starting on 1 July with special separation arrangements. This requires that the event attendees can be placed in their own seating areas or viewing sections, each of which has a maximum capacity of 500 persons. Safety must be ensured in each viewing section or area by limiting the number of visitors in order to ensure safe distances and by providing hygiene instructions in line with the restrictions that entered into force on 1 June. A clear buffer zone must be arranged between each viewing section in use. Each section must have its own access routes, services (including any food and beverage services and sanitary facilities) and event staff.

It is important to take into account the general guidelines on hygiene and other arrangements to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

Event organisers acting as an employer are issued separate provisions on the obligations for the protection of employees. For those working in public premises, the measures are based on a risk assessment made by the employer. Occupational healthcare supports employers in the risk assessment.

The Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare and the Ministry of Education and Culture have issued guidelines on how to prevent coronavirus infections in connection with public events and gatherings and when using public premises.

First, contact your own bank and other financing providers. The banks have already announced they are ready to look at loan repayment holidays and payment rescheduling due to the exceptional situation caused by the coronavirus epidemic. The Government is also taking action to improve the ability of banks to provide business financing. Finnvera guarantees loans that banks give to companies. Support is also available from the central government by application. Depending on the size of the company, the support is granted by municipalities, ELY Centres and Business Finland. 

The purpose of public funding is to ensure that companies will able to continue to operate profitably after the crisis. Another objective is to secure jobs and services for Finnish people.

Finnvera primarily offers guarantees; i.e. banks provide financing, and Finnvera provides the guarantee. Finnvera also grants loans.

The Government enables the provision of additional financing of EUR 10 billion to businesses through Finnvera by increasing its maximum domestic financing. In addition, the state will increase its coverage of Finnvera’s credit and guarantee losses from 50% to 80%, enabling Finnvera to take bigger risks in the current conditions of economic uncertainty.

Finnvera will also extend the use of SME guarantee and start guarantee for purposes such as financing required to address the financial challenges caused by the coronavirus. Guarantee decisions on loans of less than one million euros granted by banks can be made quickly. This affects a very large number of loan decisions and thereby helps to make loan decisions quickly available to a significant number of companies. Guarantee decisions for loans larger than one million euros require an assessment process at Finnvera, which is why the decision-making takes longer. 

Companies are advised to first contact their bank regarding flexible repayment and other arrangements involving financing already provided. Finnvera may grant a guarantee, if needed.

More information on Finnvera’s website

The Government will increase Business Finland’s grant authorisations by EUR 980 million to enable business support measures in the coronavirus situation. The application period for Business Finland’s business development grants ended on 8 June at 16.15.

The direct aid that Business Finland granted due to the coronavirus situation was intended for SMEs in Finland that employ 6–250 people and for midcaps that may employ more than 250 people but have an annual turnover of less than EUR 300 million.

With this funding, businesses could identify, plan and implement new development measures to deal with the effects of the coronavirus epidemic and address any further disruption.

Business Finland will introduce a new research, development and innovation loan (RDI loan), for which the Government has reserved EUR 300 million. This will be available to limited companies of all sizes (limited liability companies and public limited companies) and in all sectors.

The loan is intended for all companies operating in labour-intensive sectors in Finland that are suffering from business disruptions caused by the coronavirus crisis. The purpose of this loan finance is to help companies keep their employees in work during the crisis and to encourage companies to explore opportunities for providing new jobs in Finland after the crisis is over. 

In addition, other forms of financing offered by Business Finland are available by application as normally. Financing will be also be granted and paid out as normally. Business Finland is very flexible about any changes in project schedules and loan repayment schedules, and generally seeks flexibility in all its activities. If necessary, Business Finland can extend the duration of funded projects and loan periods, and make payments more quickly.

More information on Business Finland’s website

Business Finland’s funding during pandemic 

RDI loans in disruptive circumstances

 

The Finnish Industry Investment Ltd Tesi will launch a funding programme to ensure that medium-sized enterprises that have run into temporary difficulties due to the coronavirus epidemic will be able to stay in business. In the programme the Finnish Industry Investment Ltd provides funding to medium-sized enterprises, which are highly important in Finland in terms of their employment effect and turnover (turnover at least EUR 10 million, more than 50 employees, profitable business operations before the crisis and potential for this also in future). The investments will vary between EUR 1 million and EUR 10 million. The Tesi programme covers limited liability companies and public limited companies.

The aim is to prevent viable businesses going bankrupt as a consequence of a highly exceptional crisis that has had nothing to do with their operations. Tesi’s stabilisation programme will invest in businesses that are in a good position to overcome the financial difficulties caused by the coronavirus epidemic with additional funding. This programme to deal with the liquidity problems faced by businesses complements the follow-on funding that Tesi announced earlier.

Investments to be made from this temporary programme offer a faster track to helping businesses cope with their liquidity crisis.

Through its Venture Bridge programme, Tesi will also invest in technology companies looking for international growth that have previously raised at least seed financing from professional venture capital investors and that have had to postpone their next external financing round due to the coronavirus situation. Tesi will make the investments together and on equal terms with professional venture capital investors. The investments are made as convertible loans, which will be converted to equity in the next investment round. In this manner, the investments can be made quicker than in equity investments. Tesi’s Venture Bridge investments will be EUR 0.25–2 million in size and private investors will invest at least the same amount of capital in the company.  The Venture Bridge programme will start on 17 June 2020. Tesi will publish more detailed information about the programme on its website by then.

The Venture Bridge programme will supplement Tesi’s direct venture capital investments and will temporarily expand Tesi’s investment focus to early-stage venture capital financing. In addition to the Venture Bridge programme, Tesi will increase its investment volume for larger, later-stage venture capital financing rounds by, for example, utilising EFSI, its joint investment programme with the European Investment Bank.

The Government has reserved EUR 400 million for Tesi’s measures.

More information on Finnish Industry Investment’s website:

www.industryinvestment.com/

www.industryinvestment.com/venture-bridge-en/

 

The Government increased the authorisation of ELY Centres to grant business subsidies by EUR 400 million; this was to be used for preparing situation analyses and business development measures in companies. ELY Centres provided financing to companies that employed up to five persons at the time the application was submitted and whose business was suffering from the coronavirus situation. Financing could be made available for small enterprises in all sectors, with the exception of agriculture, fisheries and forestry and the processing of agricultural products. Sole entrepreneurs and self-employed were not covered by the aid scheme; they could apply for support from municipalities. The financing was also intended for private traders (‘yksityinen elinkeinonharjoittaja’, ‘toiminimet’) employing more than five people. The application period for aid from ELY Centres ended on 8 June at 16.15.

A situation analysis allowed companies to explore and plan business activities, and to plan new business activities and the reorganisation of production and services in the production disruption caused by the coronavirus and thereafter. Development measures may involve business reorientation, reorganisation of production, development of products and services, and competence building.

Other business services provided by the ELY Centres, i.e. business development aid, business environment development aid, regional transport subsidies and business development services, can be applied for as normally. Similarly, the granting and payment of aid and subsidies will continue as usual. ELY Centres will be flexible about changes to the content and implementation schedules of companies’ business development projects. If necessary, companies can apply for expedited payment of business development aid in several instalments.

Business development services are provided, subject to a fee, by the ELY Centres to support the development of companies providing expert services and SMEs. These services are intended for companies that are equipped to pursue continuous profitable activities and have the will to build their business. Business development aid is a financing product of ELY Centres, which can cater to the varying needs of SMEs, including support for investment. Business development aid may be used for an SME’s business development or renewal purposes in the event of changes in economic or market conditions, or for production reorganisation.

More information on the ELY Centre websites 

It is important that we make effective use of the EU level measures in Finland. For instance, the European Investment Bank Group is expected to redirect its programmes.

On 19 March 2020, the European Commission issued a communication on its Temporary Framework which considerably relaxed the EU State aid rules to enable Member States to effectively respond to the exceptional economic difficulties caused by the COVID-19 outbreak. This will facilitate the granting of a comprehensive package proposed by the Finnish Government on 20 March 2020 to companies facing financial difficulties due to the COVID-19 outbreak.

Under the Communication, aid may be granted to companies that are facing difficulties due to the emergency conditions caused by the coronavirus. Meanwhile, aid will not be granted to companies that were in financial difficulties on or before 31 December 2019. All support measures referred to in the Communication require a notification of State aid to the Commission, and their introduction requires prior approval by the Commission.

On 20 April 2020, the European Commission approved an aid scheme under which Finnvera can grant guarantees and loans for working capital and for investments to companies facing financial difficulties as a result of the crisis caused by the coronavirus epidemic. This is the first State aid decision taken by the Commission concerning Finland’s actions in the coronavirus situation. The decision is based on the Commission communication of 19 March 2020. 

More information:

Press release of the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment 20 March 2020: Temporary flexibility in EU State aid rules to mitigate difficulties caused by the COVID-19 outbreak
Press release of the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment 6 April 2020: More flexibilities to the EU State aid rules due to the coronavirus situation
Press release of the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment 21 April 2020: Commission approves the first Finnish aid scheme to support companies in the coronavirus outbreak

Entrepreneurs are temporarily entitled to labour market support to deal with the sudden and unforeseen decline in demand due to the coronavirus epidemic. Labour market support is one form of unemployment benefits.

To be eligible for labour market support, an entrepreneur must meet the following conditions:

• full-time employment of the entrepreneur has ended or
• the monthly income from the entrepreneurial activities is less than EUR 1,089.67 per each person engaged in these activities as an entrepreneur.

The termination of full-time employment or decrease in income must be due to an extensive outbreak of an infectious disease, i.e. the coronavirus epidemic.

An entrepreneur may also be entitled to unemployment benefit on the basis of other provisions of the Unemployment Security Act.

• For more information, please visit the Job Market website

All entrepreneurs are eligible for labour market support regardless of whether they engage in business as self-employed persons or in the form of a company.

In order to receive labour market support, a person must register as a jobseeker with the Employment and Economic Development Office (TE Office) and the TE Office must issue a labour policy statement on their entitlement to labour market support to the Social Insurance Institution of Finland (Kela).

In practice, the procedure is the following:

1. The person registers with the TE Office as a jobseeker and provides an account of the termination of full-time employment or decrease in income due to the coronavirus epidemic.
2. The TE Office issues a labour policy statement to Kela.
3. The person applies to Kela for labour market support.
4. Kela pays the labour market support to the person.

Studies are no obstacle to being eligible for labour market support.

In most cases the termination of full-time employment will be verified on the basis of information provided by the jobseeker. The jobseeker must provide an account to the TE Office indicating the sector in which the business operates, and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and consequent restrictions and recommendations, which led to the termination of full-time employment. Another option is that the job seeker must give an account to the TE Office on the income earned from the business activities, and that the decrease in income has been due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Closing down the business is not a condition for being entitled to labour market support.

The maximum limit is the same as the monthly income used for the fulfilment of the employment condition relating the entrepreneurs’ unemployment allowance.

Entrepreneurs registered as a jobseeker no later than on 15 April 2020 will be entitled to labour market support for the period starting on 16 March, even if they were not registered as jobseekers at that time. However, the support will not be paid until the conditions are met.

Starting from 16 April 2020, those registered as jobseekers will be entitled to labour market support from the date of registration or, if the other eligibility conditions for labour market support are met later, from that date onwards.

Entrepreneurs are entitled to labour market support for the period from 16 March to 31 December 2020.

Self-employed persons have been entitled to labour market support when they have engaged in the business part-time, business activities have been terminated or the employment of a full-time entrepreneur ends (e.g. due to decreased ability to work). The legislative amendment extends unemployment security to self-employed persons who according to the provisions currently in force have not been entitled to unemployment benefits because economic downturns are normally considered a risk to be taken in doing business.

• For more information, please visit the Job Market website

A valid insurance policy under the Self-Employed Persons Pensions Act is not a condition for being entitled to labour market support.

A job seeker who has terminated his or her employment in a business has the obligation mentioned in the Unemployment Security Act to accept employment offered by an employer on an individual basis.

The provisions of the Unemployment Security Act concerning a refusal to accept work offered by the TE Office or any negligence related to an employment plan or another similar plan or service do not apply to the right of a self-employed person to receive labour market support.

Self-employed persons can apply for both the support to solo entrepreneurs and unemployment security. These will not be adjusted to each other; in other words, being eligible for one form of support will not affect the eligibility for or the amount of the other.

Updates of the coronavirus situation can be found on the websites of the Employment and Economic Development Offices and Social Insurance Institution of Finland Kela.

• TE Services in the coronavirus situation 
• TE Services: Information to self-employed persons registering as jobseekers (in Finnish) / TE Services front page

• Kela (Social Insurance Institution): Temporary unemployment benefits for self-employed persons 

• Federation of Unemployment Funds in Finland (TYJ): FAQs about lay-offs and corona (in Finnish) / Self-employment and unemployment benefits

The act on support for job retention and re-employment and on compensation for the restrictions on activities in the food and beverage service sector will be applied to those businesses in the food and beverage service sector that were required to keep their indoor and outdoor premises closed to customers between 4 April and 31 May 2020 under section 3a, subsection 1 of the Act on Accommodation and Catering Operations (308/2006). Businesses in the food and beverage service sector include, for instance, restaurants, cafes and licensed premises.

Compensation and support will not be granted to personnel canteens whose activities were not restricted because they serve only personnel or other limited groups of persons. Personnel canteens are entitled to compensation and support only if they have also served external customers and their activities have therefore been restricted.

To prevent the spread of the coronavirus, the operations of businesses in the food and beverage service sector were severely restricted by legislation. Businesses in the food and beverage service sector were required by law to keep their indoor and outdoor premises closed between 4 April and 31 May 2020. When approving the restrictions, Parliament required compensation for reasonable costs and measures to mitigate the effects of the restrictions. In the Government’s view, the previous forms of aid for businesses and other mitigation measures were not sufficient to meet the wishes of Parliament.

The food and beverage service sector is the only sector whose activities were restricted by a special act. In connection with the closure of restaurants, Parliament called for appropriate compensation and measures to mitigate the effects of the restrictions on their operations. The support and compensation model, which entered into force on 5 June 2020, corresponds to the will of Parliament.

All businesses have access to sector-independent forms of support. General support for business costs to alleviate the financial difficulties faced by companies as a result of the COVID-19 epidemic is currently in preparation.

The model consists of two complementary elements: support for job retention and re-employment and compensation for the restriction of activities.

A business can receive support for re-employing employees once the business resumes its activities. The amount of support will be EUR 1,000 per employee. To receive the support, the business must pay the employee a total of at least EUR 2,500 in salary between 1 June and 31 August 2020.

The same EUR 1,000 in support may also be granted for the employment of temporary agency workers or workers hired via subcontractors. Support will be paid for those employees for whom it will pay a total of at least EUR 4,500, without VAT, per employee to a temporary staffing agency or subcontractor during the period from 1 June to 31 August 2020.

The maximum number of employees eligible for support is the number of employees employed in the enterprise on a full-time basis in February 2020, including through temporary staffing agencies or subcontracting.

Support can be granted for all employees for whose salary costs the company is not receiving any other support during the same period, however up to a specific maximum amount.

The compensation for restrictions on operations, on the other hand, supports the ability of businesses in the food and beverage service sector to manage their running, inflexible costs such as premises rental, electricity and utility bills. It is possible to obtain compensation for the period during which the restrictions were in force, or between 4 April and 31 May 2020.

The compensation is based on the change in sales caused by the restrictions laid down in the act. Compensation will be granted to those food and beverage service sector businesses whose sales in April 2020 were lower than the average sales in April–May 2019 or in January–February 2020. Of these two periods, the one with the higher average sales will automatically be selected as the reference period.

The amount of compensation depends on the average sales during the reference period and on how much lower sales were in April 2020 compared to it. If the average sales were less than or equal to EUR one million, the amount of compensation will be equivalent to 15 per cent of the decrease in sales. If the average sales were more than EUR one million, the amount of compensation will be equivalent to five per cent of the amount that exceeds EUR one million. The maximum amount of compensation is EUR 500,000. (For more information, see: How is the amount of compensation calculated?)

The support may be granted to an enterprise with a staff of a maximum of 800 persons. Under the European Union’s State aid rules, no enterprise may receive more than EUR 0.8 million in support for employment.

The granting of support for job retention and re-employment does not depend on the type of employment relationship of the employee. The support may be granted for both the business’ own employees and temporary agency workers.

The size of restaurants and the scope of business in the sector vary greatly. The euro amount of the compensation therefore varies significantly, as it is determined by the extent of the activities.

The compensation is based on the change in sales caused by the restrictions laid down in the act. Compensation will be granted to those food and beverage service sector businesses whose sales in April 2020 were lower than the average sales in April–May 2019 or in January–February 2020. Of these two periods, the one with the higher average sales will automatically be selected as the reference period.

The amount of compensation depends on the average sales during the reference period and on how much lower sales were in April 2020 compared to it. If the average sales were less than or equal to EUR one million, the amount of compensation will be equivalent to 15 per cent of the decrease in sales. If the average sales were more than EUR one million, the amount of compensation will be equivalent to five per cent of the amount that exceeds EUR one million. The maximum amount of compensation is EUR 500,000. (For more information, see: How is the amount of compensation calculated?)

The purpose of the reductions and turnover limits is to ensure that the amount of compensation paid to major operators is not unreasonable. In addition, the largest operators have more negotiating power to reduce their inflexible costs, for example.

For example: The average sales during the reference period (April–May 2019 or January–February 2020) according to the company’s VAT returns amounted to EUR 100,000. Compared to this, sales decreased by 75 per cent in April 2020. The amount of compensation will be EUR 11,250 per month.

The following formula will be used: Average sales for the reference period (either April–May 2019 or January–February 2020) * 0.15 (compensation share) * 0.75 (reduction in activities) = amount of compensation for one month.

The amount of compensation for the period when the indoor and outdoor premises of restaurants were required to be closed, i.e. from 4 April to 31 May 2020, is obtained by dividing the monthly compensation by 30 and multiplying it by 58, which is the number of calendar days of the closure period.

Business owners can receive both support for job retention and re-employment and compensation for costs. A business does not have to apply for job retention and re-employment support in order to receive compensation. Receiving support for job retention and re-employment does not reduce the amount of compensation for the restrictions on activities or vice-versa.

In its application for job retention and re-employment support, the business should indicate whether it has applied for or has received other support to assist with costs for either all or part of the three-month period following the closures. Other support that the company has received to cover wage costs will be taken into account in the number of employed persons used to calculate the amount of job retention and re-employment support.

In principle, the subsidies granted by the Centres for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment and Business Finland are intended for costs other than those covered by the compensation for the restrictions on operations, i.e. for the development of activities.

According to the opinion of the Parliamentary Commerce Committee, any coordination between forms of support should be carried out in such a way that the compensation for the restrictions on operations received by the food and beverage service business would be taken into account in the support granted by Business Finland or the Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment to the extent that these actually overlap. As the Committee pointed out, the support granted by the Centres for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment and Business Finland is development funding by nature, and companies that have undertaken development activities should not be placed at a disadvantage in the coordination of support as compared to those that have not undertaken such development activities.

Detailed instructions on how to obtain support or compensation have been published on 5 June 2020 the website of the Development and Administration Centre (KEHA Centre) of the Centres for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment and the TE Offices.

In most cases, the compensation will be paid to companies without the need for them to apply for it, in the form of a mass payment based on the company’s VAT information obtained from the Tax Administration. If a business is included in the mass payment, the owner will not need to take any measures of their own.

You can check whether your business is included in the mass payment using the service on the KEHA Centre website at https://mara.ahtp.fi.

For business included in the mass payment, the compensation will be paid in two instalments. The first instalment is based on data from the reference period (either April–May 2019 or January–February 2020) and on the assumption of an average sales decrease of 75 per cent. The final instalment of the compensation is scheduled to be paid towards the end of June. It will be based on the sales data reported to the Tax Administration for April 2020, which is included in the VAT declarations in mid-June.

For companies for which the information required for the mass payment is not available, the compensation will be granted upon application. The application will be processed and the compensation granted by the Development and Administration Centre (KEHA Centre) of the Centres for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment and the TE Offices. Detailed application instructions are available on the KEHA Centre website as of 5 June 2020.

In the application, the business owner should provide:

• their standard business identification information,
• information on sales subject to VAT in April and May 2019 and in January, February and April 2020.

A service is available on the website of the Development and Administration Centre (KEHA Centre) of the Centres for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment and the TE Offices, where business owners can check whether their companies are part of the mass payment or not. Business owners can access the service by providing their business ID.

The service is available at https://mara.ahtp.fi.

The compensation for the restriction of operations is provided based on VAT information obtained from the Tax Administration and on other reliable data. The job retention and re-employment support is based on the payroll data reported to the tax authorities and the verification of payments made to staff rental agencies.

As with other forms of assistance, unduly paid support or compensation will be clawed back.

The overall cost impact of the support for job retention and re-employment is estimated at about EUR 48 million. The total cost impact of the compensation for the restrictions on activities is estimated at around EUR 123 million.

When it approved the restrictions on food and beverage service operations, Parliament required compensation for reasonable costs and measures to mitigate the effects of the restrictions. The model detailed in the act entering into force on 5 June 2020 is not intended to cover all damages but rather to provide reasonable compensation for the unexpected shortfall in the liquidity of businesses due to inflexible costs. The aim is to ensure that companies are able to survive once the restrictions have ended. It will also support companies’ ability to retain their employees once the business has resumed.

Restaurants can also apply for other types of business support. More information on support is available on the website of the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment.

The act on support for job retention and re-employment in the food and beverage service sector and on compensation for the restriction of activities will enter into force on 6 June 2020.

The purpose of the new business cost support programme is to support companies’ liquidity and thereby reduce the number of companies going bankrupt because of the on-going coronavirus pandemic.

Business cost support would be a form of compensation to be used in meeting individual company’s fixed costs and labour costs. During period of corona restrictions, companies need to take care of their fixed costs, e.g. facility rental costs, HVAC and electricity bills, and costs associated with personnel. These are costs which remain inflexible even if sales decline. Business cost support would support the liquidity of companies in this situation.

Business cost support is intended for companies operating in Finland and which have experienced a significant fall in turnover due to the coronavirus pandemic and which have incurred costs that are difficult to adapt. Most of all, it will be targeted at the companies and sectors of industry most impacted by the coronavirus.

Support will be paid to those sectors of industry where turnover in April 2020 has decreased by at least 10% compared to March-June 2019. If a company belongs to such a sector of industry, a further precondition is that the company's turnover in April-May 2020 has decreased by over 30% when compared to its turnover in March-June 2019.

In accordance with the bill, the sectors of industry within the sphere of the business cost support programme will be defined separately by means of a Government decree. The sectors of eligible industries will be defined based on their April turnover. The industrial sectors to be stated in the Government decree shall be decided upon as required in the law.  An eligible sector of industry is one where the turnover has decreased as a result of the coronavirus pandemic by at least 10% in April 2020 when compared to its average turnover in March-June 2019.

Eligible sectors

Business cost support is expressly intended to assist companies worst impacted by the coronavirus pandemic. Restrictions based on industrial sector have the effect of more effectively targeting the support to companies that have experienced severely the effect of the pandemic. For example, the sector-based restriction partially eliminates the possibility of support going to companies characterised by seasonal decreases in turnover.

 

A company may be granted business cost support regardless of the sector-based restriction if the company’s turnover has decreased by more than 30%, and if this has been caused by the pandemic and not by some other factor, e.g. by seasonal decreases in turnover. In such as case, the company would need to demonstrate particularly compelling reasons for its decrease in turnover having been caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

Companies that have been in financial difficulties within the meaning of the EU’s state aid regulations on 31 December 2019 would not be eligible for business cost support.

Nor would companies that have defaulted on their tax obligations or those that are bankrupt be eligible for business cost support. Pending bankruptcy proceedings would also prevent the granting of business cost support.

Business cost support would not include companies engaged in primary agricultural production nor those in the fisheries and aquaculture sector. The support in question has been excluded from the scope of the Commission’s decision on the framework support programme. In addition, the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry's administrative sector provides, where applicable, a similar type of cost support for primary agricultural production and fisheries, and thus it is appropriate to apply sector-based restrictions. Separate state support rules apply to primary agricultural production and fisheries. In this respect, the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry is responsible for notifications to the Commission regarding State aid and preparing of support programmes.

Use the State Treasury Support Counter to check if your company is eligible for support.

If business cost support has been granted on the basis of incorrect or misleading information provided by the company, the State Treasury would be required to recover the sum granted.

In the case of support to be recovered, interest shall be charged at 3 percentage points if incorrect or incomplete information has been provided by the applicant intentionally or through gross negligence.

The provisions of Finland’s Penal Code regarding aid offenses apply to situations where persons deciding on awarding of aid have been knowingly provided with false or incorrect information.

 

The business cost support would be at maximum EUR 500,000 for two months. Business cost support less than EUR 2000 would not be paid, as such a low sum would not be relevant in preventing bankruptcies. The amount of business cost support granted depends on the magnitude of the applicant company’s fixed costs and labour costs. Fixed costs entitling to compensation could amount to no more than 50% of the particular company’s average turnover during the comparison period.

This support is for a fixed period of time, and it may be granted for two months.

The 4th supplementary budget proposal for 2020 includes an appropriation of EUR 300 million to be used for paying business cost support.

Business cost support is applied for electronically from the State Treasury between 7 July and 31 August 2020. More information on the application procedure on the State Treasury's website

When applying for support, companies are expected to provide the information and reports necessary for the granting and payment of the support. Information is needed on the costs involved in granting the support, on State support already granted, on any compensation received based on private insurance policies, and information demonstrating that the company is not in financial difficulties. As soon as possible after the adoption of the law, the State Treasury will communicate in more detail the matters that companies need to mention in their application.

See the State Treasury website for detailed search instructions

The April sales data on which the support granted will be based, as well as the sales data for the comparison period, will be basically obtained from the data submitted to the State Treasury by the Tax Administration. However, companies could, if they so wish, request that the business costs support be paid on the basis of both April and May sales data. In such cases, payment could not take place until the end of July, which is when the May sales data would be available from the VAT returns submitted by companies to the Tax Administration. If a company's business is wholly or partly non-VAT sales, such a company would provide information on April and May sales and sales for the comparison months in its application.

Even if a company had already received other direct types of support in the corona situation, it would be entitled to apply for business cost support, but the sum of the other forms of direct support would be deducted from the support to cover business costs. Support for the food and beverage service sector and local councils’ coronavirus support for sole entrepreneurs and self-employed persons would be deducted in full, and 70% of the support for business development granted by Business Finland and the ELY Centres would be taken into account.

Following the introduction of the new form of support, the business development aid currently granted by Business Finland and the ELY Centres to companies in the context of the coronavirus pandemic will be discontinued. However, Business Finland and ELY Centres will process all applications submitted by 16.15 on 8/6/2020. Following this, Business Finland and ELY Centres will continue to fund companies by means of their normal financing instruments. However, applications for coronavirus support granted by ELY Centres to rural enterprises, primary production and fisheries will continue to be received.

The Act enters into force on 1 July 2020. Once the law and the associated decree are in force, companies can submit their applications for support. The application period for the support is from 7 July to 31 August 2020.

The application period is from 7 July to 31 August 2020. The State Treasury will process the applications as quickly as possible.

The TE Office will contact the entrepreneur if, as a result of the coronavirus situation, the entrepreneur has not been able to restart his or her business activity or the situation has not otherwise changed since 1 July.

• More information on the TE Services website
• More information on Kela's website

Valtori’s key task is to ensure that its services operate effectively and without disruption. In support of this in the current situation, an emergency management team meets daily. To ensure effective and undisrupted operation of its services, Valtori draws up various plans, , acts in accordance with these and has  contingency procedures. It closely monitors the situation, ensuring an effective response to any new developments. Critical services are organised in such a way that they can continue to operate in exceptional circumstances. The identification of which services are critical is made in collaboration between Valtori and its client agencies.

Network capacity for remote access is being continuously increased and load sharing is in place. This will continue, and network capacity is being constantly monitored. If necessary, telecommunications traffic for remote access will be prioritised. Many tasks can also be performed without remote access.

At the moment, the situation is largely stable, but any developments will be closely monitored. An exceptional situation may lead to unforeseen failures or overloads that may have an impact on digital public services. Critical services will be secured in all circumstances. There is limited capacity for simultaneous use, which means that certain digital services may need to be prioritised. This may mean temporary restrictions on less critical services.

One cannot just decide to stay out of work, but the obligation to work based on an employment contract applies during virus epidemics as well. In many workplaces arrangements to work remotely are being used, if allowed by the type of work.

Employees may stay out of work if their presence at home is necessary e.g. to take care of small children as daycare centres or schools have been closed down. The law does not entitle to paid absence in such cases, but there may be regulations concerning this in the collective agreements. People should check if this is the case.

 

The obligation to work based on an employment contract applies during virus epidemics as well.

Virus epidemics may cause situations where an unforeseeable event disrupts regular operations or there is a serious risk of such disruptions. In such situations, the employer may order employees to carry out emergency work. Emergency work may also be used in situations where an unforeseeable event may lead to a threat to life, health, property or the environment.

Emergency work on top of regular working hours may only be used to the extent that is truly necessary, and for no more than two weeks at a time. Employees are entitled to overtime pay for the time of emergency work that exceeds their maximum regular 

As a rule, yes they are. However, certain sectors may have specifics features that require different kind of regulation. For example, night work is allowed in hospitals, even if having to work at night on a regular basis is prohibited in many sectors.

During the coronavirus epidemic, it is necessary to secure certain functions that are critical for the functioning of society and human health. This is why it has been considered necessary to apply certain measures under the Emergency Powers Act in such sectors. These include the right of an employer to deviate from certain provisions of the Annual Holidays Act, Working Hours Act and Employment Contracts Act.

The employer and employee usually agree on when the annual holidays are taken. The employer has the power to decide on the timing of annual holidays within the time limits laid down in the Annual Holidays Act, i.e. summer holiday during the summer leave period (2 May–30 September) and winter holiday between 1 October and 30 April. For certain sectors, there may be different rules laid down in the collective agreement or collective agreement for public servants. Summer and winter holiday must both be granted as an uninterrupted period, unless keeping the work going requires that the portion of the summer holiday exceeding 12 weekdays is taken at a different time in one or several parts.

When an employer decides on the timing of the annual holiday, the employee must be informed about this at least one month before the annual holiday starts. Exceptions are allowed only in cases where it is quite impossible to comply with this obligation. If this is the case, the employee must be informed of the time of the annual holiday as soon as possible, but not later than two weeks before the start of the holiday.

If the employer has already informed the employee of the time of the annual holiday, i.e. the time has been decided, or the time when the holiday will be taken has been agreed between the employer and employee, the employer cannot unilaterally, by his or her decision alone, change the time. If the employer unilaterally changes the time of the annual holiday that has already been decided and this causes harm or loss to the employee, the employer must compensate for such harm or loss as specified in the Employment Contracts Act. However, the employee must still comply with the employer’s decisions concerning the new time of the annual leave, even in cases where the employer changes this time in a way that violates the law.

The employer is not allowed to interrupt a holiday that has already started. With regard to public officials, provisions on interrupting the annual holiday are laid down in the collective agreement concerning them.

The time when the annual holiday is taken may be changed by a mutual agreement between the employer and employee.

Please note! In healthcare and social welfare services, the Government Decree issued under the Emergency Powers Act enables the employer to derogate from the provisions concerning the notification of annual leaves, postpone an annual leave that has already been decided and interrupt a leave that has started. This requires that the conditions specified in the Government Decree are fulfilled.

The purpose of change security is to enable employees dismissed for financial or production-related reasons to find new employment faster and support the employee already during the notice period. Employees who have been dismissed or laid off are covered by change security, provided that the conditions are met. 

Employees covered by change security are entitled to paid leave during the notice period for job seeking and for participating in employment planning or measures included in this. The duration of the leave depends on the duration of the notice period (5–20 days). The leave may not cause significant harm to the company, and the employer must be informed of the leave as soon as possible. Change security also includes eligibility for increased earnings-related allowance or labour market support for the time when services in support of finding employment are being used. Increased earnings-related allowance or labour market support may be paid for the maximum of 20 days.

If the number of people employed on a regular basis is at least 30, dismissed person who have worked for the company uninterrupted for at least five years must be offered the opportunity to participate in coaching or training to promote finding employment at the employer’s cost. The employer and employee may agree that the employer will meet this obligation by paying in part or in full for training or coaching procured by the employee.

Change security also includes the employer’s obligation to provide occupational healthcare to employees laid off for financial or production-related reasons for six months from the termination of the obligation to work, in accordance with the employer’s occupational healthcare agreement. This applies to employees who before the termination of the employment relationship had been employed by the employer concerned for at five years and the total number of staff employed on a regular basis is at least 30.

Regular working hours may be arranged as shift work. Any work may be carried out as shift work, unless there are restrictions based on the collective agreement or the employment contract. Employees working in shifts must have similar, but not necessarily identical, tasks. The employer must also ensure that the daily and weekly rest periods of employees take place.

The shifts must change regularly and at intervals agreed upon in advance. Change of shifts is considered regular when a shift does not coincide for more than one hour with the immediately following shift or the shifts are no more than one hour apart.

In shift work, employees must be provided with a written work schedule in good time, or at least one week before the start of the period the schedule concerns. After this, the work schedule may only be changed with the employee’s consent or for a compelling reason relating to the organisation of work.

According to the Employment Contracts Act, salaries shall be paid on the last day of the pay period, unless otherwise agreed. It is possible to agree on the pay period in the employment contract, and in many areas collective agreements stipulate the pay period. These stipulations may be binding.

An employer cannot unilaterally override binding stipulations in an employment contract or collective agreement. In the event of late payment of salaries, the employee is entitled to interest on late payment. If pay is delayed at the end of the employment relationship, the employee is entitled to receive pay for the waiting days for a maximum of six days.

If an employee is incapable of working due to illness, the right to sickness pay is determined by the Employment Contracts Act and collective agreements. Pay during sickness is in practice determined in sectoral agreements that extend the employer's obligation to pay remuneration for a sickness period from that laid down in the Employment Contracts Act.

During incapacity to work, Kela will pay sickness allowance after the waiting period has passed. The waiting period is commonly the first day of incapacity to work and nine weekdays following the beginning of incapacity. In general, employers apply for sickness allowance if they pay salary during absence from work and Kela will pay the sickness allowance to the employer.

If the employee has been quarantined under the Communicable Diseases Act, he or she is entitled to a 100% daily allowance for the duration of the quarantine. If the employer pays a salary during this period, they have the right to receive the daily allowance.

If an employee’s child is placed in quarantine, the Communicable Diseases Act contains provisions to cover that, and communicable disease allowance may be paid in this case as well.

If an employee is placed in quarantine after a business trip, absence from work could be attributed to a reason due to the employer and the employee would then be entitled to his or her salary. The employee is entitled to his or her salary also when he or she is forced to remain quarantined abroad during a business trip. The situation may be different if the employee is placed in quarantine because of travel abroad for holidays. There are no legal principles or general guidelines on this at present. There may be consequences if, for example, the travel has taken place against official instructions.

If the employer is on sick leave because of the coronavirus infection (incapacity to work due to illness), his or her right to sick pay is determined on the basis of the Employment Contracts Act and collective agreements. Payment of salaries during sick leave is included in sectoral collective agreements

 

 

If the employee’s child is under 10 years old and is diagnosed with coronavirus infection, the employee is entitled to temporary childcare leave. The length of temporary childcare leave is determined by the Employment Contracts Act/the applicable collective agreement and the salary payable during this period is determined by the applicable collective agreement.

In specific situations, while the employee may be entitled to absence from work for compelling family reasons (a child who is over 10 years old falls ill; his or her caretaker falls ill; a daycare centre closes down), the grounds for the right to be absent from work are relatively strict. It is clear, however, that children cannot be left unattended. This absence is unpaid (unless otherwise agreed in the collective agreement) and it is not intended for long-term absence.

The obligation to provide a sick leave certificate is laid down in the Employment Contracts Act and stipulated in collective agreements. To avoid unnecessary burden on healthcare personnel and to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, labour market organisations have issued recommendations that the employee's own statement is sufficient to justify the sick-leave pay.

If the employee has been quarantined under the Communicable Diseases Act, he or she is entitled to a 100% daily allowance for the duration of the quarantine. If the employer pays salary during this period, they have the right to receive the daily allowance.

Relevant information can be found on the website of TE Offices. TE Offices follow the guidelines of the National Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) and the Regional State Administrative Agencies (AVI) for their customer service. As a rule, the customer service has switched to online and telephone services.

While the best and fastest way to manage your affairs is by using the electronic services online, you can also get service by telephone. To minimise congestion, please call the telephone service only in urgent situations.

If you do not have access to online or telephone services, TE Offices also provide forms as printouts. Location-specific information on where the forms are available can be found on the website of your local TE Office. However, due to the prevailing coronavirus situation, a maximum of 10 persons at a time will be allowed in a TE Office lobby.

When you follow the instructions given by the TE Office and the healthcare authorities, your right to unemployment benefit will remain unchanged. Read more at www.te-palvelut.fi/te/en

You can find information on layoffs and cooperation procedures on the websites of TE Offices. If you as an employer must initiate a cooperation procedure, you must notify the local TE Office of the cooperation negotiations. In layoff situations, employees must be personally informed. If necessary, TE Offices advise companies in matters related to large-scale layoffs.

Employees who are given a notice of termination will have access to the change security services offered by TE Offices already during the notice period. The services provide support for job seeking as well as coaching and training for re-employment.

Further information is available on the TE Services website 

Workplace training and traineeships that are organised outside the educational institution will continue if the workplace can do so and the education provider and employer deem the working environment safe for the student.

If there is a high risk of contracting the coronavirus in the workplace, it is recommended that workplace training be suspended and continue only after the risk no longer exists.

In the health care sector, it is worth bearing in mind that health care students might have to help out if there is a shortage of personnel in health care should the epidemic last long.

The provisions of chapter 8 apply when the employer considers measures which may lead to notice of termination, lay-off or reducing a contract of employment to a part-time contract of one or several employees on financial or production-related grounds. When considering such measures, the employer must issue a written proposal for negotiations in order to commence the co-operation negotiations and employment measures at the latest five days before the negotiations begin.

When the employer proposes measures which may lead to termination, lay-off or reduction of a contract of employment into a part-time contract of an employee, the proposal for negotiations or its material contents must also be delivered in writing to the Employment and Economic Development Office no later than at the  start of the co-operation negotiations unless this information has already been provided in some other context.

Duration of negotiations

The duration of co-operation negotiations regarding lay-offs is shortened from the current six weeks or 14 days to five days. The duration of negotiations was shortened because a company’s financial capacity to overcome the difficult situation caused by the coronavirus could be significantly weakened if the negotiations took longer. This amendment is valid from 1 April to 31 December 2020.

A negotiation period of 14 days and six weeks still applies to negotiations on lay-off or reduction of the employment contract into a part-time contract.

Disregarding the co-operation procedure in certain situations

Derogating from the Act on Co-operation within Undertakings is allowed in certain special cases. The employer may decide not to conduct the co-operation negotiations if they are prevented by particularly serious and unforeseeable reasons that may cause damage to the production or service operations or economy of the company.

All three conditions for the derogation must be fulfilled, i.e. the reasons must 1) cause damage to the production or service operations or economy of the company 2) be particularly serious and 3) be unforeseeable. According to legal literature, the employer’s need to carry out dismissals or temporary layoffs as quickly as possible due to due to a sudden collapse of the company’s finances or volume of orders is not a reason to deviate from the co-operation procedure obligation, except in highly exceptional circumstances.

The employer must also immediately start the co-operation negotiations when the conditions for the deviation no longer exist. In this case the negotiation process includes examining the grounds for the deviation.

Note: Some collective agreements contain provisions on matters such as the duration of negotiations.  If a collective agreement binding on the employer contains such a provision, it is applied instead of the provisions of law. Due to the coronavirus epidemic, exceptional solutions have been adopted in many sectors. More information about these is available from the labour market organisations concerned.

Yes. The re-employment obligation period laid down in the Employment Contracts Act and the Seafarers’ Employment Contracts Act is temporarily extended from four or six months to nine months. This amendment is valid from 1 April to 30 June 2020. The obligation shall apply to employment contracts terminated during the validity of the Act. The date of termination of the employment relationship is irrelevant.

The extended re-employment obligation applies to all employees dismissed on financial or production-related grounds while the Act was in force, regardless of the duration of the employee’s employment relationship.

However, this amendment does not apply to the public sector. In the public sector, the re-employment obligation period continues to be four or six months, depending on the duration of the employment relationship.

Since 1 April 2020, employers have been entitled to lay off an employee in a fixed-term employment relationship under the same conditions as an employee with an employment contract of unspecified duration. This amendment is in force until 31 June 2020.

The grounds for the temporary layoff of employees are laid down in the Employment Contracts Act. Employees in open-ended employment relationships may be laid off when the employer has financial or production-related grounds for terminating the employment contract or the work or the employer's potential for offering work have diminished temporarily and the employer cannot reasonably provide the employee with other suitable work or training corresponding to its needs.

This amendment does not apply to the public sector. Public sector employers are entitled to lay off an employee in a fixed-term employment relationship only if the employee is working as a substitute for a permanent employee and if the employer would be entitled to lay off the permanent employee.

Employers must ensure occupational safety also under emergency conditions. In the current coronavirus situation, the primary means of preventing exposure to the virus is avoiding personal contacts.

One way of avoiding contacts is to work remotely. If this is not possible, the working conditions at the workplace must be arranged in such a way that the risk of exposure to the virus is minimised.

Employees’ risk of being infected with the coronavirus can be reduced, among other things, by intensifying cleaning, advising employees on proper hygiene, installing protective screens that prevent droplet infection, and through different work shift arrangements.

If the risk of infection is significantly elevated – for example, in work involving continuous personal contacts – personal protective equipment must be used: respiratory protective devices, protective gloves, safety goggles and, where necessary, protective clothing.

The personal protective equipment must be appropriately and regularly maintained, cleaned and replaced.

Further information and guidelines for employers on how to prepare for the coronavirus epidemic are available on the website of the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health.

• FIOH guidelines for employers to prepare for the coronavirus epidemic

Yes. Employers must update their assessment of risks and workplace hazards so that the coronavirus epidemic is taken into consideration. Employers must draw up guidelines and determine procedures to be followed during the coronavirus epidemic.

Further information about risk assessment during the coronavirus epidemic can be found in the guidelines issued by the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health for workplaces:

• Guidelines of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health concerning employees at risk of serious illness from the coronavirus (COVID-19) 

 

To reduce the risk of spreading the coronavirus, the primary location of remote work during the current epidemic should be the employee’s home. In other words, shared remote work premises should now be avoided.

Employers will provide more detailed instructions on remote work for their employees, but good general guidelines can be found on the website of the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health.

• Guidelines for remote work

The provisions of sectoral collective agreements take precedence over the provisions of the Acts. According to the Employment Contracts Act and the Act on Cooperation within Undertakings, national employer and employee organisations may, by collective agreements, derogate from the provisions concerning the period of notice before lay-off and the re-employment obligation period of the Employment Contracts Act, and from provisions concerning the period of negotiation of the Act on Cooperation within Undertakings.

In employment relationships where a collective agreement is deemed generally applicable, the provisions of collective agreements referred to above shall apply. This is the case regardless of whether the collective agreement provides for minimum periods of notice and negotiation that are longer or shorter than five days. In employment relationships governed by general applicability, the period of notice before lay-off agreed in the collective agreement may be applied, while the period of negotiation derogating from the Cooperation Act may not.

An organised employer laying off employees must check

• whether the collective agreement applicable to the employment relationship contains provisions on the period of notice before lay-off and the minimum negotiation period, and
• the content of these provisions between 1 April and 30 June.

An employer complying with a generally applicable collective agreement must check whether the agreement applicable to the employment relationship contains provisions on the period of notice before lay-off.

The provisions of the Act on shortened periods of notice and negotiation shall apply if

• the employment relationship is not governed by a collective agreement binding on the employer 
• the collective agreement does not contain provisions on the period of notice before layoff or negotiation.

The aim is for the transport and communications system to function as normally as possible. Finland's telecommunications networks have good capacity and resilience. The National Cyber Security Centre, which operates within the Finnish Transport and Communications Agency, monitors the situation and issues instructions as necessary.

Temporary financial support due to the epidemic compensates for loss of income when the child does not participate in early childhood education or in contact teaching related to school education, and therefore the parent remains unpaid at home to care for the child during the epidemic, in accordance with the Finnish Government’s recommendations.

The support applies to parents whose children are in early childhood education and care, pre-primary education or in grades 1 to 3. Even parents of pupils in need of special support or pupils in extended compulsory education and preparatory education are entitled to the financial support. 

A parent or guardian in a contractual or public-service employment relationship in Finland has the right to the financial support, or a spouse living in the same household as the parent or guardian. 

The support is payable if the loss of earnings are not compensated under other legislation, such as the Communicable Diseases Act. Obtaining compensation requires an agreement between the employee and the employer on unpaid absence.

The amount of the support is the same as the minimum parental allowance, i.e. EUR 28.94 per weekday (EUR 723.50 per month). The support is available during the emergency conditions, as from 16 March. Parents of schoolchildren will receive support during school term.

The support can be applied retroactively from the Social Insurance Institution Kela. 

Temporary financial support due to the epidemic is available to persons arriving in Finland from abroad, who were placed in quarantine-like conditions and who are therefore away from work without pay.

A group of seasonal workers arriving in the country can also receive the temporary support if their employment relationship starts with two weeks' unpaid absence from work in quarantine-like conditions.

The condition for the compensation is that the person has a contractual or public-service employment relationship in force in Finland but is absent from work without pay. The support will be paid for a maximum period of 14 days from the date of arrival in Finland.

The support will be payable if the loss of earnings were not compensated under other legislation, such as the Communicable Diseases Act. Obtaining compensation requires an agreement between the employee and the employer on unpaid absence.

The support amount is EUR 28.94 per weekday (EUR 723.50 per month). It is available during the emergency conditions, as from 16 March. The support can be applied retroactively from the Social Insurance Institution Kela. 

 

A person who by his or her own decision is staying in quarantine-like conditions, thus also following the Government’s recommendations, is as a rule not entitled to compensation. One cannot just decide to stay out of work, but the obligation to work based on an employment contract applies during a virus epidemic as well. The first thing to do in workplaces is to organise the work in new ways, also making use of remote work, or move persons to tasks where the risk is smaller.

A person is entitled to sickness allowance on account of an infectious disease when ordered to stay in quarantine-like conditions by a physician specialised in infectious diseases. Sickness allowance on account of an infectious disease is applied for from the Social Insurance Institution of Finland Kela. Further details on the application and the conditions for the allowance are also available at Kela.

Temporary financial support due to the epidemic compensates for loss of earnings in a situation where a person stays away from work without pay to care for a child who is entitled to early childhood education and care or contact education during the epidemic. Compensation for loss of earnings is also payable in a situation where a person has been advised to stay in quarantine-like conditions after returning to Finland from abroad. Eligibility for the compensation is subject to the condition that the employee and employer have agreed on the unpaid absence from work. (Pressrelease: Temporary support for those absent from work with no pay due to the coronavirus epidemic)

Sickness allowance on account of an infectious disease and temporary financial support due to the epidemic are intended to compensate for loss of earnings. 

Belonging to a risk group does not automatically entitle anyone to compensation. A person who, by his or her own decision, is staying in quarantine-like conditions, thus also following the Government’s recommendations, is as a rule not entitled to compensation.

In cases where employees belonging to risk groups are working in positions in which remote work is not possible and where the risk of being exposed to infection is high, the employer must try to make arrangements so that these persons can transfer to positions where the risk of being exposed to infection is lower. Remote work is currently advised for all employees whose tasks can be carried out from home.

 

Construction sites should prepare for possible delays and take measures concerning especially moisture protection during the construction process.

The situation caused by the coronavirus is new in the construction sector as well, and it is impossible to say anything definite as yet. It is quite obvious that the constructions sites could not have predicted such drastic changes.

Because of this, the Ministry has set up a working group that will follow the situation in the housing and construction sectors, together with relevant partners and operators, and give proposals for necessary measures.

Preparedness for coronavirus in the administrative branch of the Ministry of the Environment

The purpose of the restrictions and recommendations in force during the coronavirus epidemic is to slow down and prevent the spread of the coronavirus in Finland, to safeguard the resource capacity and resilience of our healthcare system throughout the country, and to protect people, especially those who are the most at risk.

On 10 July, the Government decided to extend the temporary restrictions on border traffic in Finland. This decision follows on from the decisions made by the Government on 19 March, 7 May and 12 June.

On 13 July 2020, restrictions were lifted on traffic at the internal borders between Finland and countries where the incidence of the coronavirus is similar to that in the countries where internal border control has already been lifted. Restrictions at the external borders to continue with certain exceptions. More information on border traffic is available in the Border Guard guidelines.

The Government is closely monitoring the development of the disease and is prepared to change the decisions on border traffic if necessary.

Finland’s missions abroad keep their own websites and social media channels updated on current information on the impact of the coronavirus situation on the processing of visa and residence permit applications.

https://um.fi/finland-abroad

The main rule is to restrict unnecessary travel. According to the Border Guard’s guidelines, third-country nationals who have been granted a residence permit may enter Finland starting from 1 May 2020. Residence permits for seasonal workers are not included in this category. They are treated as their own special group. To be allowed to enter Finland, a third-country national with a residence permit for seasonal work entering Finland for the first must be included in the seasonal worker quota of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry.

Entry into Finland as foreign seasonal workers is permitted to citizens of the Schengen area, other EU countries and the United Kingdom under the same conditions as travel for contractual or assignment-based employment. 

The Finnish border authorities will allow entry into Finland of 3,000 seasonal workers, in addition to the previously decided 1,500, who are citizens of third countries outside the Schengen area, other EU countries and the United Kingdom to meet the labour needs in the spring and early summer. The Border Guard will monitor the number of citizens of third countries entering into Finland for critical primary production tasks in the spring and early summer.

More detailed information on border traffic during emergency conditions is available in the Border Guard guidelines.

Seasonal workers who are citizens of third countries (e.g. Ukraine, Belarus, Thailand) are allowed to enter the country if they have the necessary permits for entry into the country and for working, and their employer has filled in the form proving the necessity of their entry into the country.

More frequently asked questions concerning seasonal workers can be found on the coronavirus page of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry.

A person arriving in the country must restrict unnecessary close contacts and enter self-isolation for 14 days. Under self-isolation, movement is restricted to travel between the workplace and place of residence, and other essential movement. Use your own car, if possible.

Anyone who experiences respiratory symptoms should contact healthcare services immediately. Further instructions on the 14-day period of self-isolation will be distributed upon arrival in the country.

Remember the following:

• Avoid physical contact and maintain a safe distance of at least 1–2 metres from other people.
• Only go out if necessary.
• Avoid crowds and close contacts as much as possible.
• If you cannot avoid close contact, wash your hands with water and soap immediately after the contact.
• Follow the instructions on good hand and cough hygiene. Read the instructions on good hand and cough hygiene.

Persons arriving to work in healthcare and social welfare must agree with their employer on any special work arrangements. The employer must assess the risk of infection and, if necessary, make changes to the employee’s duties for 14 days from arrival in the country in order to ensure client and patient safety and the safety of the workplace.

If you get symptoms of a respiratory infection and suspect a coronavirus infection:

Contact a health centre immediately. You can

• make an assessment of symptoms at omaolo.fi
• call the local health centre, emergency services or Medical Helpline at 116 117

No. The current legislation does not allow reimbursement of the application processing fee.

No. The current legislation does not allow reimbursement of the application processing fee.

The residence permit will remain in effect for the duration of the layoff. An extended permit may be granted on condition that the employee has had secure means of subsistence while the previous permit was in effect. More information on working and unemployment benefits while laid off  is available the websites of Kela and the TE Office.

More information on the Finnish Immigration Service’s website

• Frequently asked questions about the coronavirus situation on the website of the Social Insurance Institution of Finland (Kela)
• Current information on the TE Services website
• TE Services: If you are laid off
• TE Services: Instructions for employers regarding layoffs (in Finnish)

 

For now, the Talent Boost action programme will focus on measures taken in Finland. We are monitoring the situation and will adjust measures as necessary.

Pilot projects that were to be implemented abroad to boost international recruitment and attract international talent will be postponed. The international recruitment pilot projects of EURES that were in their early stages will be postponed.  However, EURES experts may continue to contact companies that have job vacancies and prepare assessments of situations in companies. Efforts will be made to complete the ongoing recruitment and coaching programmes online.

Companies and other employers are encouraged to use instruments such as Talent Explorer financing to recruit international experts living in Finland. Action to promote diversity in working life is taken through the Successful Multicultural Company campaign, the Talent Boost metrics and the Global Talent communications campaign.

The emergency conditions do not affect immigrants with valid residence permits. The Finnish Immigration Service and the TE Offices and ELY Centres that make partial decisions are now prioritising work-based residence permit applications considered essential for security of supply or the activities of specific sectors. Applications for extended permits will also be processed.

At the moment, the Centre for Economic Development in Uusimaa (ELY Centre) where partial decisions regarding residence permits for entrepreneurs are centrally processed, only processes permits for entrepreneurs who work as health care professionals, care workers for the elderly, in goods transport, or in other duties considered essential (for example for the security of supply). Applications for extended permits will also be processed. Granting of residence permits for entrepreneurs is always based on an overall consideration of each individual case, which involves the ELY Centre making an assessment of the conditions for profitable business and income security. The effects of the coronavirus on business activities will be taken into account when a partial decision is made. In the assessment, more weight may be given to accounting information for a period before the acute impact of the coronavirus on business activities. Future outlook will also be assessed.

The TE Office publishes vacancies on its website. The employment administration actively targets different jobseeker groupswith campaigns on seasonal work in agriculture. Key target groups of the campaigns are holders of work permits already in Finland who are able to accept other work in the emergency conditions;young Finnish and international students, upper secondary school students, asylum seekers who have the right to work, those who are about to complete their integration training, and all jobseekers and persons who have been laid off for more than three months.

Educational solutions offered by the TE Services can also help employers gain access to skilled labour. TE Services organise customised vocational training courses, including intensive short courses, planned together with the employer. More information is available from the TE Office and the ELY Centre in your region.

Vacancies on the TE Services website

Contact information for TE Offices

Contact information for ELY Centres

 

 

Employers can report vacancies in seasonal work. This is necessary to secure sufficient labour force.  Access to foreign labour has become more difficult in the coronavirus situation because Finland’s borders have been closed. In cases where entry into Finland is granted, the two-week quarantine must be taken into account. The situation may be different for work performed in the late autumn.

In the coronavirus situation, seasonal workers are unable to arrive in Finland and therefore unable to fulfil their key obligation, i.e. obligation to work.

Employers can hire a person in Finland to replace a worker arriving from abroad. This type of temporary job contract can be signed on condition that the contract expires once the foreign worker who is being replaced arrives in Finland and takes the job.

Every effort is made to allow labour force already in Finland to become employed in sectors affected by labour shortage. Following lay-offs and dismissals, there is a significant amount of labour force available in the labour market at the moment. Many young students will have no summer jobs this summer.  In addition, foreign students and other foreigners looking for work in Finland should be considered potential employees. Information about job opportunities should therefore be offered in English. The exceptional situation also severely affects the ability of sole entrepreneurs and, for example, tourism entrepreneurs to employ themselves when there are hardly any customers.  This group also represents potential workforce which is worth keeping in mind.

Vacancies in agriculture, forestry and horticulture should be posted on the TE Services website 

Vacancies can also be advertised on the Central Union of Agricultural Producers and Forest Owners MTK’s  Töitä Suomesta (Work in Finland) website

Personnel service companies can offer help in finding and recruiting employees and in temporary employment. Your local TE Office can provide contact information for personnel service companies that can help you find seasonal workers.

TE services

Personal service companies

The unloading of waste at the reception hall of an incineration or other waste treatment plant poses a risk to the waste transport staff even in normal conditions. The employees are exposed to all kinds of microbes that spread into the air when waste is being unloaded. This must be taken into account in the guidelines for labour protection, and appropriate protection and good hygiene is always necessary.

Read more about the possible exposure of waste transport staff to the coronavirus on the website of the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health.

Finnish Institute of Occupational Health: Further instructions (in Finnish)

According to the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, waste containers can be washed during the coronavirus epidemic, provided that adequate protection is duly taken into account. Further instructions on washing waste containers during the coronavirus epidemic is available on the website of the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health.

Finnish Institute of Occupational Health: Further instructions (in Finnish)

The Tax Administration will ease the tax payment arrangements for businesses, and the Government has proposed a lower interest rate on the late payment of taxes that are covered by a payment schedule. These will be temporary changes.

Who are the new arrangements intended for?

The scheme is intended for companies experiencing payment difficulties.

Which taxes will be covered by the new arrangements?

The scheme will apply to all types of taxation.

What kind of easing is planned?

The late-payment interest would be 4 per cent, down from the normal 7 per cent.

The first instalment under the payment schedule would become due in three months, when normally it would be due in one month.

What period of taxes payable would the new arrangement apply to??

The easing of late-payment interest arrangements could also be applied retroactively to taxes that have fallen due in March.

The reduced interest rate would be valid for taxes due no later than the end of August.

What do you need to do to take up the new payment arrangement?

If your business has difficulty paying taxes due to the coronavirus outbreak, you can apply for an adjusted payment arrangement with the eased terms in the Tax Administration’s e-service ‘MyTax’.

Who is eligible for the new payment arrangement?

Businesses can request more time to pay if they have difficulty paying taxes.

What could prevent you being eligible for the new payment arrangement?

The new payment arrangement cannot be made if the applicant has a tax debt being recovered through enforcement or if the applicant has failed to file tax returns or Incomes Register reports. A payment schedule that has lapsed in the past may also prevent a new arrangement.

You will find information on the EU's response on the website of the Council of the European Union.

Coronavirus outbreak and the EU's response

The magnitude and duration of the impact of the pandemic on local government finances will continue to be closely monitored. The crisis is increasing local government spending on healthcare and social welfare and at the same time reducing economic growth and employment, and therefore tax revenue, as well as municipal income from charges and fees. According to the estimates given in the Local Government Finances Programme (in Finnish), the biggest impact of the coronavirus crisis will be caused by the loss of tax revenue. The effects differ from one part of the country to the next, and from one grouping of municipalities to another, depending on factors such as their demographic and economic structure.

Municipalities can, to some extent, influence the economic effects of the crisis. For example, the increase in expenditure will be significantly affected by how municipalities are able to transfer employees to other tasks from activities that have been reduced, and to adjust expenditure on these activities.

Local government and central government should do what they can to prepare for what could be a long period of disruption. The preparations should also take into account that the recovery may be long, even after the immediate crisis is over.

The Government is monitoring the impact of the crisis on municipal expenditure and income, and is also keeping track of how well municipalities are able to secure financing. The Government is also exploring ways of providing financial support to municipalities. The principle underlying such support is that it should be effective: the right instruments in the right place at the right time.

Agreed measures for supporting municipalities:

• Support package of about EUR 1.4 billion for municipalities in Government’s fourth supplementary budget proposal (press release of the Ministry of Finance, 2 June 2020)
  • Central government will use discretionary government grants to reimburse hospital districts directly for the extra costs, such as spending on intensive care, caused by the coronavirus crisis.
  • The municipalities’ share of corporation tax revenue will be increased for a fixed period until the end of this year.
  • Central government transfers to municipalities for statutory basic public services will also be increased to the end of 2020.
  • Discretionary central government transfers to local government will be increased.

• Municipalities to be reimbursed for temporary fall in tax revenues (effective 1 May 2020)

Even in these circumstances, the municipal executive must deal with the financial statements for 2019 by the end of March and then submit them to the auditors. The local council must consider the financial statements before the end of June.

The Accounting Board’s local government sub-committee cannot change the timetable for drawing up and submitting the financial statements, as provisions on these tasks are laid down in the Local Government Act.

Municipal financial statements can be signed electronically. The preparation and signing of the financial statements are described in the general instructions of the Accounting Board’s local government sub-committee on the municipal annual report and financial statements.

The Government submitted a supplementary budget proposal to Parliament on 20 March.

This supplementary budget focuses on the costs of combatting the coronavirus outbreak and of the preparedness measures. These costs relate particularly to the work of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health and the agencies and bodies within its branch of government.

Government submits supplementary budget proposal to Parliament due to the coronavirus (press release 20 March)

The Government submitted the year’s second supplementary budget proposal to Parliament on 9 April.

This supplementary budget includes measures supporting people’s health and livelihoods, improvements in the situation for municipalities, business activity in general, rural businesses, and culture and sports.

Government reaches agreement on second supplementary budget proposal for 2020 and the General Government Fiscal Plan for 2021–2024 (press release 8 April)

The Government submitted the year’s third supplementary budget proposal to Parliament on 8 May.

This proposal focuses in particular on easing the financial situation of businesses and covering the costs of managing the coronavirus situation and combating the effects. In further supplementary budget proposals to be made this year, the Government will also assess the need for other coronavirus-related appropriation increases and, more broadly, measures to support the economy. The Government plans to submit economic stimulus proposals to Parliament in a supplementary budget proposal at the beginning of June.

Government decided on third supplementary budget proposal for 2020 (press release 8 May)

Communicable diseases such as the coronavirus and especially the measures taken to combat it have adverse impacts on the economy in a number of ways. Some of these negative impacts are direct, some are indirect.

Direct impacts arise from workplaces being closed down, absence from work due to sickness, resources used to treat those who have fallen ill, and loss of earnings.

Pandemic has adverse impacts on the domestic demand, especially in the service sector. At the same time, uncertainty keeps growing and the confidence of both businesses and households weakens, leading to a further and significant decrease in the demand.

In addition, disturbances in both domestic and global production chains delay or permanently reduce production.

Communicable diseases and measures to combat them have indirect impacts e.g. on work efficiency. They may also increase the costs of investments and delay decisions on these, reduce inputs in knowledge and skills of the workforce, and cause costs to the public sector.

The duration of the indirect impacts depends on the duration of the pandemic and measures to combat it, and on whether permanent changes take place in consumer behaviour and in the functioning of the production chains.

Ministry of Finance published its latest Economic Survey on 16 April:

Finnish economy hit hard by coronavirus (press release)

Economic Survey, Spring 2020 

The coronavirus crisis can affect the financial situation of many people. What should you take into account if your income drops? What should you take into account if you are taking out a loan? You can find answers to these and many other questions on the website of the financial and debt counselling services.

If you need advice concerning your financial situation, you can contact a legal aid office providing financial and debt counselling services or the financial and debt counselling chat. The chat is open from Monday to Friday at 10–12. The chat and the contact details of the legal aid offices are available on the Oikeus.fi website.

Advices also on the website of the Finnish Competition and Consumer Authority

Published 26.3.2020 at 13.45, answer has been updated on 3 April 2020 at 16.05

The temporary interest rate cap of 10 per cent applies to consumer credits falling within the scope of application of chapter 7 of the Consumer Protection Act. The interest rate cap does not apply to goods-or-services-related credits, such as general credit card credits, car hire purchase and instalment payment options in e-commerce. 

The ban on direct marketing of consumer credits applies to consumer credits falling within the scope of application of chapter 7 of the Consumer Protection Act, including goods-or-services-related credits. 

Companies can request the VAT they have paid at the beginning of 2020 to be returned to them. In practice, the company requests a payment arrangement and will pay the returned VAT back to the Tax Administration later as part of the payment arrangement. The easiest way to request a payment arrangement is in MyTax.

Tax Administration's guidance

• Frequently asked questions about the coronavirus situation on the website of the Social Insurance Institution of Finland (Kela)
• Current information on the TE Services website
• TE Services: If you are laid off
• TE Services: Instructions for employers regarding layoffs (in Finnish)

 

According to the Employment Contracts Act, salaries shall be paid on the last day of the pay period, unless otherwise agreed. It is possible to agree on the pay period in the employment contract, and in many areas collective agreements stipulate the pay period. These stipulations may be binding.

An employer cannot unilaterally override binding stipulations in an employment contract or collective agreement. In the event of late payment of salaries, the employee is entitled to interest on late payment. If pay is delayed at the end of the employment relationship, the employee is entitled to receive pay for the waiting days for a maximum of six days.

If an employee is incapable of working due to illness, the right to sickness pay is determined by the Employment Contracts Act and collective agreements. Pay during sickness is in practice determined in sectoral agreements that extend the employer's obligation to pay remuneration for a sickness period from that laid down in the Employment Contracts Act.

During incapacity to work, Kela will pay sickness allowance after the waiting period has passed. The waiting period is commonly the first day of incapacity to work and nine weekdays following the beginning of incapacity. In general, employers apply for sickness allowance if they pay salary during absence from work and Kela will pay the sickness allowance to the employer.

If the employee has been quarantined under the Communicable Diseases Act, he or she is entitled to a 100% daily allowance for the duration of the quarantine. If the employer pays a salary during this period, they have the right to receive the daily allowance.

If an employee’s child is placed in quarantine, the Communicable Diseases Act contains provisions to cover that, and communicable disease allowance may be paid in this case as well.

If an employee is placed in quarantine after a business trip, absence from work could be attributed to a reason due to the employer and the employee would then be entitled to his or her salary. The employee is entitled to his or her salary also when he or she is forced to remain quarantined abroad during a business trip. The situation may be different if the employee is placed in quarantine because of travel abroad for holidays. There are no legal principles or general guidelines on this at present. There may be consequences if, for example, the travel has taken place against official instructions.

If the employer is on sick leave because of the coronavirus infection (incapacity to work due to illness), his or her right to sick pay is determined on the basis of the Employment Contracts Act and collective agreements. Payment of salaries during sick leave is included in sectoral collective agreements

 

 

If the employee has been quarantined under the Communicable Diseases Act, he or she is entitled to a 100% daily allowance for the duration of the quarantine. If the employer pays salary during this period, they have the right to receive the daily allowance.

The provisions on student financial aid make it possible to take review the maximum time limits for student financial aid and sufficient progress in studies in an exceptional situation such as the one caused by the coronavirus.

If it has not been possible to study, the payment of student financial aid may be continued even if study attainment falls short, and the maximum period qualifying for financial aid for studies may be extended.

• More about how the coronavirus affects student benefits  

The Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare has published a wide range of questions and answers concerning the coronavirus on its website. The website contains information about the coronavirus, at-risk groups, protection, and contracting the infection. The website also contains information about the effects of the coronavirus on pregnant women, children and older people.

• Frequently asked questions about coronavirus (kela.fi)

Processing of unemployment benefit applications is being accelerated starting 11 May 2020.

The Ministry of Health and Social Affairs has issued instructions to the Social Insurance Institution of Finland (Kela) and municipalities on how to handle social assistance applications as smoothly as possible during the coronavirus epidemic. Due to the crisis, clients’ chances of influencing, for example, their own employment or changing housing are now limited, so some of the requirements imposed on the client have been temporarily waived. Such appendices and explanations are not required that are not necessary in this exceptional situation. This will also reduce the workload of Kela and the municipalities. 

Please contact your own unemployment fund or Kela, the Social Insurance Institution of Finland. Based on unemployment, you are entitled either to unemployment allowance (earnings-related or basic) or to labour market support. Further information on unemployment benefits is available on Kela's website.

Follow Kela's website about unemployment benefits in the coronavirus situation.

 

You can apply for support at your own unemployment fund or Kela. Unemployment funds and Kela are responsible for all matters relating to the applications and their processing.

 

The required period in paid employment will be temporarily shortened to 13 calendar weeks instead of the present 26 calendar weeks.

For non-owner family members of entrepreneurs the required period of employment will be temporarily shortened to 26 calendar weeks instead of the present 52 calendar weeks.

As a rule, all available income and assets are taken into account when granting social assistance. Short-term support may be granted in exceptional circumstances without the need to realise assets. However, this does not apply to cash, which is reasonable to use first in order to secure the person’s own subsistence in exceptional circumstances.

In the present situation, unemployment allowances paid on the grounds of layoffs will not be taken into account in calculating the maximum period of payment that applies to the unemployment allowance. This amendment will improve unemployment security should the unemployment be prolonged. 

Under exceptional circumstances, additional costs arising from home delivery of medicines may be considered as healthcare costs necessary for the client. The Social Insurance Institution of Finland, Kela, may include such costs in a financial obligation given to a pharmacy if basic social assistance is granted to the client.

Food is covered by basic social assistance, and any additional costs associated with buying food can be covered by supplementary social assistance. If Kela has made a  decision on granting basic social assistance, supplementary social assistance can be applied for at the municipal social administration. Municipalities have introduced even other local arrangements for grocery purchasing. You can ask about the arrangements directly from your municipality of residence.

 

The responsibility for arranging temporary accommodation rests with the social services of your municipality. The authorities placing a person under quarantine must contact the municipal social services if it becomes clear that the person does not have a residence.

The five-day waiting period before a person is eligible for unemployment security will be abolished. This concerns earning-related allowance, basic unemployment allowance and labour market support.

The basic social assistance takes into account the actual amount of housing expenditure. In normal circumstances, it would be considered whether the housing costs are reasonable.  However, this requirement has been abandoned for new clients for the duration of this exceptional situation, and therefore the clients are not urged to change housing.

Decisions on basic social assistance must be made within 7 working days by law. As the authorities will probably receive lots of applications, the target period for application processing may be exceeded. The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health has recommended that people who have run out of money or have an urgent situation be given priority in the application processing.

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Due to the coronavirus outbreak, rehabilitative work taking place in groups is largely suspended. The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health has decided that municipalities may continue to organise rehabilitative work during the epidemic if the municipality is able to carry it out in a manner that minimises the risk of communicable diseases, and if the municipality agrees about the arrangements with the client. In this case, the client can be paid benefits and expense allowances related to the rehabilitative work.

The municipality may also suspend the rehabilitative work activities during the epidemic if the activities cannot be carried out in a way that minimises the risks. Before doing so, the municipality must notify the TE Office and inform the client. The clients will not lose their benefits and their social assistance will not be reduced while the activities are suspended, but they will not receive any expense allowance.

Temporary financial support due to the epidemic compensates for loss of income when the child does not participate in early childhood education or in contact teaching related to school education, and therefore the parent remains unpaid at home to care for the child during the epidemic, in accordance with the Finnish Government’s recommendations.

The support applies to parents whose children are in early childhood education and care, pre-primary education or in grades 1 to 3. Even parents of pupils in need of special support or pupils in extended compulsory education and preparatory education are entitled to the financial support. 

A parent or guardian in a contractual or public-service employment relationship in Finland has the right to the financial support, or a spouse living in the same household as the parent or guardian. 

The support is payable if the loss of earnings are not compensated under other legislation, such as the Communicable Diseases Act. Obtaining compensation requires an agreement between the employee and the employer on unpaid absence.

The amount of the support is the same as the minimum parental allowance, i.e. EUR 28.94 per weekday (EUR 723.50 per month). The support is available during the emergency conditions, as from 16 March. Parents of schoolchildren will receive support during school term.

The support can be applied retroactively from the Social Insurance Institution Kela. 

Temporary financial support due to the epidemic is available to persons arriving in Finland from abroad, who were placed in quarantine-like conditions and who are therefore away from work without pay.

A group of seasonal workers arriving in the country can also receive the temporary support if their employment relationship starts with two weeks' unpaid absence from work in quarantine-like conditions.

The condition for the compensation is that the person has a contractual or public-service employment relationship in force in Finland but is absent from work without pay. The support will be paid for a maximum period of 14 days from the date of arrival in Finland.

The support will be payable if the loss of earnings were not compensated under other legislation, such as the Communicable Diseases Act. Obtaining compensation requires an agreement between the employee and the employer on unpaid absence.

The support amount is EUR 28.94 per weekday (EUR 723.50 per month). It is available during the emergency conditions, as from 16 March. The support can be applied retroactively from the Social Insurance Institution Kela. 

 

A person who by his or her own decision is staying in quarantine-like conditions, thus also following the Government’s recommendations, is as a rule not entitled to compensation. One cannot just decide to stay out of work, but the obligation to work based on an employment contract applies during a virus epidemic as well. The first thing to do in workplaces is to organise the work in new ways, also making use of remote work, or move persons to tasks where the risk is smaller.

A person is entitled to sickness allowance on account of an infectious disease when ordered to stay in quarantine-like conditions by a physician specialised in infectious diseases. Sickness allowance on account of an infectious disease is applied for from the Social Insurance Institution of Finland Kela. Further details on the application and the conditions for the allowance are also available at Kela.

Temporary financial support due to the epidemic compensates for loss of earnings in a situation where a person stays away from work without pay to care for a child who is entitled to early childhood education and care or contact education during the epidemic. Compensation for loss of earnings is also payable in a situation where a person has been advised to stay in quarantine-like conditions after returning to Finland from abroad. Eligibility for the compensation is subject to the condition that the employee and employer have agreed on the unpaid absence from work. (Pressrelease: Temporary support for those absent from work with no pay due to the coronavirus epidemic)

Sickness allowance on account of an infectious disease and temporary financial support due to the epidemic are intended to compensate for loss of earnings. 

Belonging to a risk group does not automatically entitle anyone to compensation. A person who, by his or her own decision, is staying in quarantine-like conditions, thus also following the Government’s recommendations, is as a rule not entitled to compensation.

In cases where employees belonging to risk groups are working in positions in which remote work is not possible and where the risk of being exposed to infection is high, the employer must try to make arrangements so that these persons can transfer to positions where the risk of being exposed to infection is lower. Remote work is currently advised for all employees whose tasks can be carried out from home.

 

Citizens of Finland always have the right to return to Finland, and everyone has the right to leave the country. The Government recommends avoiding unnecessary travel to countries other than those for which the restrictions on entry have been lifted.

Government decides on continuation of restrictions on traffic at internal and external borders (Press release 23 July)
Government decision on border traffic restrictions from 13 July (Press release 10 July)
Ministry for Foreign Affairs: Questions and answers about the coronavirus and travel

Guidelines for border traffic | raja.fi

Travel within Finland is allowed as long as health and safety guidelines relating to coronavirus are observed.

All travel must be avoided when ill. During travel, it is important to observe good hand and respiratory hygiene. It is important to avoid unnecessary physical contact Tourism businesses must pay particular attention to cleaning, preparedness planning and training of staff.

Guidelines for the safe reopening of domestic tourism in Finland | tem.fi

Opening hours and border crossings for commercial traffic are unchanged. Airports are an exception to this, as the Government has ordered airport closures. For commercial traffic, remote systems can also be used to make the customs clearance.

Goods traffic is continuing, and so Customs controls and inspections of goods are conducted as usual.

The purpose of the restrictions and recommendations in force during the coronavirus epidemic is to slow down and prevent the spread of the coronavirus in Finland, to safeguard the resource capacity and resilience of our healthcare system throughout the country, and to protect people, especially those who are the most at risk.

On 10 July, the Government decided to extend the temporary restrictions on border traffic in Finland. This decision follows on from the decisions made by the Government on 19 March, 7 May and 12 June.

On 13 July 2020, restrictions were lifted on traffic at the internal borders between Finland and countries where the incidence of the coronavirus is similar to that in the countries where internal border control has already been lifted. Restrictions at the external borders to continue with certain exceptions. More information on border traffic is available in the Border Guard guidelines.

The Government is closely monitoring the development of the disease and is prepared to change the decisions on border traffic if necessary.

Citizens of Finland always have the right to return to Finland, and everyone has the right to leave the country. The Government recommends avoiding unnecessary travel to countries other than those for which the restrictions on entry have been lifted.

Government decides on continuation of restrictions on traffic at internal and external borders (Press release 23 July)
Government decision on border traffic restrictions from 13 July (Press release 10 July)
Ministry for Foreign Affairs: Questions and answers about the coronavirus and travel

Guidelines for border traffic | raja.fi

Ministry of Transport and Communications: Coronavirus and the transport system, communication networks and services

Travel within Finland is allowed as long as health and safety guidelines relating to coronavirus are observed.

All travel must be avoided when ill. During travel, it is important to observe good hand and respiratory hygiene. It is important to avoid unnecessary physical contact Tourism businesses must pay particular attention to cleaning, preparedness planning and training of staff.

Guidelines for the safe reopening of domestic tourism in Finland | tem.fi

Food supply is an important part of the security of supply operations that are being managed in cooperation between the public and private sector in all circumstances. Security of supply in the food sector means that the population has access to the same amount of nutritional energy as in normal conditions (2,800 kcal, i.e. 11.7 MJ per day). Securing the food supply is strongly founded on national agricultural production. 

The latest updates of the situation can be found on the website of the National Emergency Supply Agency (in Finnish) (https://www.huoltovarmuuskeskus.fi/huoltovarmuuskeskuksen-nakemys-koronaviruksen-vaikutuksista-logistiikkaan-ja-huoltovarmuuteen).  

According to the National Emergency Supply Agency, the retail sector works as normally at present. There have been no disturbances in logistics, manufacturing and processing industry, or deliveries. The rapid change in people’s purchasing behaviour may have caused temporary shortages at retail stores. The retail outlets are entitled to place restrictions on the volumes purchased to ensure a good customer experience. We are monitoring the situation very closely in cooperation with the food supply sector. Joint action is taken by the central government, trade and industry, primary production and logistics operators to secure reliable functioning of the markets. 

Even if the people are understandably worried, it is good to remember that there is no need to buy more food or hygiene products than usually. All you have to do is make sure that you have enough food and other essential supplies to last for three days. Guidance (in Finnish) on what this means can be found e.g. on the website of the Martha Organization.  

According to current knowledge, the virus is not transmitted via food, including fish. This means that the primary producers and processors of fish and operators in the supply chains can work as usually, as long as they take particular care of hygiene and of the preservation of fish. Consumers can also use fish and fish products as normally. A key issue for both operators in the fisheries sector and consumers is that the precautionary measures to prevent the spread of the virus are followed with care. It is important to maintain a functioning and viable value chain for fish so that we will have fish and fish products available also in future. Read more about the coronavirus and food on the website of the Finnish Food Authority (in Finnish). Read more about support for the fisheries sector available under the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund and State aid schemes on the website of the Maritime and Fisheries Network at merijakalatalous.fi/en/. 

The new coronavirus is transmitted directly from human to human. According to current knowledge, there is no evidence that the SARS-CoV-2 virus would spread or be transmitted to humans via food or via pets or farmed animals. E.g. in Belgium, France and Germany pets that have been in close contact with humans suffering from the coronavirus disease COVID-19, especially cats, have been reported as infected with the virus. In some cases the cats had shown no symptoms of the disease. Pets are considered to have no role in spreading the disease, but in all cases the virus had been transmitted from humans. Despite these quite rare and isolated cases considering the extent of the pandemic, pets can and must be cared for in the same way as usually, taking care of regular, good hand hygiene.

Besides pets, minks on four mink farms in the Netherlands have been found to carry the disease. In all these cases staff members caring for the animals had shown respiratory symptoms indicative of COVID-19.

Based on genetic analyses, it has been concluded that the coronavirus COVID-19 would originate from bats because its close relative has been found in Rhinolophus bat (horseshoe bat) populations. Studies on how the coronavirus was transmitted to humans are under way. The hypothesis is that the coronavirus would first have been transmitted from bats to an intermediate host where it had mutated into one that can be transmitted to humans.

Read more:
UN Food and Agriculture Organization FAO

Goods transport continues as usual and we have construction materials in Finland, so running out of these is not the main concern. Cement is being made in Finland and we have the raw materials.

• Involves cooperation between various organisations to maintain the basic economic functions of society. Securing a sufficient labour workforce supports the security of supply.
• Involves measures to safeguard the livelihoods of the population, the continuity of the essential economy, the material requirements of national defence, and the minimum infrastructure needs.
• Is based on the natural structures of the economy, i.e. the functioning of the market, a competitive economy, and the ability of business and industry to adapt to unexpected situations.
• Is closely tied to well-functioning international political, economic and technological connections, and their continuity.
• Is created and maintained in Finland through effective co-operation between public and private sectors.
• Consists of administrative guidance, preparedness in business and industry, and pre-planned arrangements to ensure security of supply.

The following principles are applied:

• The Security of Supply Act applies to economic activities. Every effort is made to keep activities close to normal for as long as possible in abnormal or emergency conditions. Almost all disruptions and crises have financial implications.
• From the security of supply perspective, the original cause or nature of the disruption is irrelevant; what matters is how it affects the flow of goods and ultimately the livelihoods of the population.
• Problems with supply and demand, as well as other business interruptions, financial losses, or discomfort and distress experienced by citizens do not necessarily put the security of supply at risk even if the impacts on economy, business and customers may be significant.
• A wide range of continuously updated mechanisms are in place to ensure the security of supply, including legislation, continuity management, material security of supply, operational preparedness of companies and public administration, strategic ownership, and international agreements.
• Approximately every five years, the Government issues general objectives for security of supply (security of supply strategy; current 1048/2018), which define, among other things, the priorities for near-term development for the security of supply organisation, critical priority sectors in terms of security of supply, and the level of preparedness, taking into account the minimum needs of the population, the essential economy, and national defence.
• To ensure security of supply in all conditions, sufficient preparedness to produce goods must be achieved and maintained, and preparedness to steer production, distribution, consumption and foreign trade.
• It is currently not possible to safeguard all the key economic functions of society with national arrangements only.
• In situations where the market mechanism (economic resources) fails to provide sufficient security of supply, and the authorities’ powers under normal conditions are not sufficient to manage the incident, the authorities may resort to additional powers provided in the Emergency Powers Act.

According to the Security of Supply Act (1390/1992), each ministry is responsible for developing the security of supply in its own sector. The ministries are responsible, in their own sectors, for steering and monitoring the implementation of security of supply, and for developing operational capability, as well as for making the necessary legislative changes in situations where the markets are unable to sufficiently ensure security of supply. The Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment is responsible for the overall development of security of supply and the coordination of preparedness measures. The National Emergency Supply Agency (NESA) is in charge of the development and operational maintenance of security of supply, and the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment is responsible for the steering and supervision of the Agency.

The National Emergency Supply Agency (NESA) is tasked with analysing the current status of the country’s security of supply, maintaining awareness of security of supply and the related requirements in public discussion and decision-making, as well as executive tasks. NESA’s mandate and expertise are intersectoral and cover all areas of security of supply. The agency’s operations are managed by a Board of Directors appointed by the Government.

NESA is responsible for state emergency stockpiling, for promoting and coordinating the preparedness of the authorities to steer the economy in emergency conditions, for promoting preparedness planning in companies, and for ensuring the functioning of society’s technical infrastructure. It takes measures to ensure the production of essential goods and services in times of crises, analyses threats to security of supply, and produces plans for countermeasures. International cooperation represents an increasingly large part of NESA’s activities.

Effective cooperation between public authorities and the business community create and maintain security of supply in Finland. Finland has a long history of safeguarding security of supply through an extensive collaboration and expert network that covers different sectors of business and industry, administrative sectors and industry organisations. This partnership model provides a modern and cost-effective method for ensuring preparedness and security of supply.

The current organisation is not a 24/7 emergency response organisation but first and foremost a preparedness organisation. It focuses on ensuring the best possible preparedness for any incidents and emergencies.

The system is based on a networked organisation of experts from different administrative and industry sectors that operates in line with the principle of public private partnership to maintain and build the security of supply. This partnership model provides a modern and cost-effective method for managing threats to security of supply.

Various sectors and pools operate in conjunction with the National Emergency Supply Agency (NESA) as permanent cooperation bodies. The sectors are industry-specific organisations that promote cooperation between business and industry and public authorities. The security of supply sectors are 1. food supply 2. energy supply 3. logistics 4. healthcare 5. finance and 6. industry. Members of the sectors include representatives of ministries, central agencies, business and industry organisations and key companies. Pools are industry-led bodies that are responsible for operational preparedness under sectoral guidance.

Despite the digitalisation of society, material security of supply remains an important part of the ever-expanding and diversifying range of means to ensure security of supply.

National Emergency Supply Agency is responsible for state emergency stockpiling for a severe crisis. State emergency stockpiles contain imported fuels, cereals, hospital supplies, medicines, alloys, chemicals and critical imported raw materials. NESA also keeps compulsory stockpiles of imported fuels and medicines in preparation for a serious disruption in availability. Security stockpiling helps to secure the livelihood of the population and the production of companies in conditions where the supply of essential raw materials and other materials is disrupted.

The operations of the National Emergency Supply Agency are based on an off-budget National Emergency Supply Fund. This Fund is used to finance emergency stockpiling, technical backup arrangements, safeguarding critical infrastructure, preparedness planning for places of business critical for security of supply, and the operational expenses of NESA.

Thanks to its solvency and agility, the National Emergency Supply Fund can reliably ensure long-term security of supply.

In normal situations, healthcare providers procure protective equipment and other materials they need through established procurement channels as part of their statutory preparedness obligation. The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health is the responsible party in these matters. Under the current emergency conditions, NESA offers support for this high volume procurement, and is actively procuring protective equipment from foreign suppliers at the request of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, and coordinates the procurement of protective equipment by different actors.

Under the current emergency conditions, launching domestic procurement will significantly improve the availability of the necessary materials.

Some specialised medical care services are organised across hospital district boundaries, based on the catchment areas for highly specialised medical care of the university hospitals. Provisions on these specific catchment areas have been issued in Government Decree, as have the interlinkages between hospital districts and specific catchment areas.

The Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment, together with the Finnish business and industry, research institutes and other authorities, have explored opportunities for producing protective materials in Finland. Dozens of domestic manufacturers have been identified who are interested and capable of manufacturing either respiratory protective devices or protective garments.

The primary objective is to launch the manufacture of surgical masks and respiratory protective devices in Finland. At the moment, respiratory protective equipment are not manufactured in Finland.

The challenge in launching large-scale domestic production quickly was the lack of required machinery and raw materials. Now, at least two domestic companies are preparing to launch the production of protective equipment, with the aim of launching high-volume production in a tight schedule.

Finland is better equipped to launch the manufacture of protective clothing since there are companies in Finland that currently manufacture protective suits, caps and gloves. Many companies have also started making visors.

Ensuring security of supply requires continuous, extensive and goal-oriented dialogue and cooperation between different actors and sectors.

When procuring protective materials, the National Emergency Supply Agency works in close cooperation with the Ministry for Foreign Affairs and Finland’s missions abroad. With their local knowledge and contacts, missions are able to provide prestige services that open doors to local authorities, companies and other actors in the host country. Their support is used where necessary to carry out the procurement or quality assurance, or for other reasons.

International cooperation plays a central role when it comes to safeguarding the security of supply through effective international political, economic and technical connections and their continuity. Finland takes an active part in the promotion of health security in international contexts.

Finland coordinates its activities in collaboration with other countries, especially in the EU. Health matters fall under the Member States’ competence, but ongoing cooperation with the EU is important for ensuring joint material supplies, monitoring intersectoral exchange of information, coordinating risk analyses, and finding ways to tackle the coronavirus. Finland engages in close cooperation with the other Nordic countries especially in consular matters and in the repatriation of travellers from around the world.

The aim is to maintain, despite the restrictions imposed by the countries, free freight traffic also during a crisis and to ensure that production materials, foods and such other vital products as medicines move between countries.

The coronavirus pandemic shows that multilateral cooperation is needed more than ever before in today’s world that is characterised by global interdependence. Finland considers that the cooperation within the EU is particularly important in efforts to improve crisis resilience, and advocates the strengthening of the WHO in order to be better prepared for future pandemics, among other things.

Finland has been working for years to strengthen international health security, including through the Global Health Security Agenda (GHSA), which was established after the Ebola outbreak in West Africa. Finland supports the WHO and grants core funding to other UN agencies for use especially in countries where the need of assistance is greatest. Finland supports the development of a coronavirus vaccine by funding international non-profit organisations.

Advisory services relating to seasonal labour from abroad have moved to the TöitäSuomesta (‘WorkfromFinland’) service.

Advisers at the TöitäSuomesta service will answer questions concerning the quarantine, transport and mobility of seasonal workers and multicultural workplace communities on weekdays from 8.30 to 16.00.

Please first give the identifier “advice on coronavirus and seasonal labour by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry” (“MMM korona- ja kausityöneuvonta) or send a text message, and the adviser will contact you.

+358 45 155 4113 (Tuomas Männistö, fi, en)

+358 40 158 0644 (Maarit Tiittanen, fi, en)

+358 40 258 8451 (Sirpa Pekkarinen, fi, en)

+358 44 342 5425 (Heidi Paasanen, fi, en, sv)

+358 40 502 6810 (Marko Mäki-Hakola; flights and quarantine)

Multicultural workplace communities:

+358 44 420 9000 (switchboard)

+358 44 431 4105 (Henriikka Suvinen, fi en)

+358 43 825 4984 (Inkeri Taurula, fi, en)

Assistance in finding labour and in employment issues is available at www.te-palvelut.fi and  www.töitäsuomesta.fi

Seasonal employees who are in an employment relationship with a Finnish employer have the right to use Finland’s public healthcare services in the same way as other municipal residents, regardless of whether they come from a member state of the European Union or from outside the EU. Seasonal employees pay the regular client fees for using public healthcare services. Care and treatment of generally hazardous communicable diseases, including testing and care related to the coronavirus, is free of charge. 

Having arrived in Finland, seasonal employees should contact the Social Insurance Institution Kela without delay. Kela establishes their right to healthcare and issues a certificate concerning this to the employees, to be presented when using public healthcare services. If authorised by the seasonal employee, the employer may also request Kela to establish the employees’ right to healthcare. If a seasonal employee who does not have this certificate becomes ill, public healthcare services may also contact Kela to establish the person’s right to healthcare.

A seasonal employee who uses private healthcare services, buys prescription medicines or has travel expenses relating to care for illness may apply to Kela for reimbursement. Kela issues a health insurance card (Kela card) to employees covered under the National Health Insurance (NHI) scheme of Finland. 

Electronic systems can be used for holding meetings of local government decision-making bodies. Their use must be in accordance with the administrative regulations of the municipality.  The Local Government Act (410/2015) provides ample opportunities for decision-making to be carried out remotely, on a location-independent basis.

A temporary amendment to the Local Government Act came into force at the beginning of May 2020, allowing a municipality or joint municipal authority to decide on the temporary use of electronic meetings and electronic decision-making procedures in all of its decision-making bodies.

Participants who are, for example, in quarantine can also make use of electronic systems to take part in municipal decision-making. Matters pertaining to a decision-making body can be decided on

• at an actual meeting or
• at a meeting taking place in an electronic environment (electronic meeting), or
• by electronic means prior to a meeting (closed electronic decision-making procedure, possible in bodies other than the municipal council).

Under the temporary amendment to the Local Government Act, the local executive in a municipality or joint municipal authority may decide to introduce new digital meeting arrangements that allow the use of electronic meetings on a more flexible basis than before. This type of meeting may be held via, for example, a videoconferencing connection. The visual and audio connections do not necessarily need to remain continuous and unbroken throughout the meeting. The meeting nevertheless requires that:

• the participants in the meeting can be ascertained reliably,
• the chairperson can lead the meeting and
• the participants can follow the course of the meeting and participate in the deliberations.

Meetings can also be arranged electronically in such a way that some participants are present at the meeting venue and others participate remotely. It these cases, however, care must be taken to ensure that everybody has an equal opportunity to participate.

At electronic meetings and in the electronic decision-making procedure, the municipality must ensure information security and take care that information to be kept secret is not accessible by outsiders. In addition, the municipality must ensure that meetings which are publicly accessible can still be accessed and followed when the meeting is held remotely, as an electronic meeting. Under the temporary provisions of the Local Government Act, the local executive may decide that publicly accessible meetings can only be followed electronically.

• Guide to digital meetings and digital decision-making procedures in municipalities. Publications of the Ministry of Finance 2019:6; in Finnish, abstract in English)

The rule does not concern local government bodies. Meetings are not prohibited.

As a precautionary measure, meetings may be held less frequently and only to decide on matters that are mandatory or urgent. The number of members of the public allowed to follow public local council meetings should be limited to ten (50 persons starting from 1 June), and electronic channels should be used to follow the meetings.

The Government’s instruction to avoid meetings does not concern the positions of trust in local government. Persons holding positions of trust who are over 70 years old may also participate in the meetings of local government bodies. However, quarantine or health considerations may in practise constitute an obstacle to participating in a meeting.

The magnitude and duration of the impact of the pandemic on local government finances will continue to be closely monitored. The crisis is increasing local government spending on healthcare and social welfare and at the same time reducing economic growth and employment, and therefore tax revenue, as well as municipal income from charges and fees. According to the estimates given in the Local Government Finances Programme (in Finnish), the biggest impact of the coronavirus crisis will be caused by the loss of tax revenue. The effects differ from one part of the country to the next, and from one grouping of municipalities to another, depending on factors such as their demographic and economic structure.

Municipalities can, to some extent, influence the economic effects of the crisis. For example, the increase in expenditure will be significantly affected by how municipalities are able to transfer employees to other tasks from activities that have been reduced, and to adjust expenditure on these activities.

Local government and central government should do what they can to prepare for what could be a long period of disruption. The preparations should also take into account that the recovery may be long, even after the immediate crisis is over.

The Government is monitoring the impact of the crisis on municipal expenditure and income, and is also keeping track of how well municipalities are able to secure financing. The Government is also exploring ways of providing financial support to municipalities. The principle underlying such support is that it should be effective: the right instruments in the right place at the right time.

Agreed measures for supporting municipalities:

• Support package of about EUR 1.4 billion for municipalities in Government’s fourth supplementary budget proposal (press release of the Ministry of Finance, 2 June 2020)
  • Central government will use discretionary government grants to reimburse hospital districts directly for the extra costs, such as spending on intensive care, caused by the coronavirus crisis.
  • The municipalities’ share of corporation tax revenue will be increased for a fixed period until the end of this year.
  • Central government transfers to municipalities for statutory basic public services will also be increased to the end of 2020.
  • Discretionary central government transfers to local government will be increased.

• Municipalities to be reimbursed for temporary fall in tax revenues (effective 1 May 2020)

Even in these circumstances, the municipal executive must deal with the financial statements for 2019 by the end of March and then submit them to the auditors. The local council must consider the financial statements before the end of June.

The Accounting Board’s local government sub-committee cannot change the timetable for drawing up and submitting the financial statements, as provisions on these tasks are laid down in the Local Government Act.

Municipal financial statements can be signed electronically. The preparation and signing of the financial statements are described in the general instructions of the Accounting Board’s local government sub-committee on the municipal annual report and financial statements.

Residents, service users, organisations and other communities must be informed about the municipality’s operation. Timely, regularly updated, clear and fact-based communication is essential in a crisis situation.

Municipalities should use clear and understandable language and take into account the needs of their different resident groups.

In a state of emergency, municipalities must also provide sufficient information on municipal services, the handling of matters, any decisions taken and the effects of these decisions.

In a state of emergency, municipal management is based on the same management system as in normal circumstances, in accordance with administrative regulations and under the Local Government Act (410/2015). However, special arrangements apply to municipal decision-making. In a state of emergency, municipalities' preparedness obligation is based on the preparedness obligation laid down in the Emergency Powers Act. Under the Act, municipalities, joint municipal authorities and other intermunicipal bodies must ensure, by means of contingency plans, prior preparation of emergency operations and other measures, that their duties will be performed with the least amount of disruption also in emergency conditions (1552/2011, section 12).

Due to the coronavirus outbreak, municipalities should ready their preparedness organisation. The body of the preparedness organisation is made up of the municipality’s senior management group supplemented, for example, by other parties belonging to the local authority corporation (e.g. water supply and services and the support services that are important for the continuity of the municipality’s operation, such as cleaning and catering) and, where appropriate, by other representatives of key stakeholders.

In a state of emergency, the following tasks and areas are of key importance:

• the municipality’s own, broader regional and national situational awareness, access to information and the communication on situational awareness between different parties
• proactive planning and appropriate use of resources
• management in line with the circumstance
• organisation of cooperation and coordination between different parties
• communication within and outside the municipality, taking into account the information needs of residents, cooperation bodies and stakeholders.

Each administrative branch should examine the terms and conditions for managing disruptions, included in the agreements between municipalities and private service providers.

In addition to organising service provision, municipalities should remember to maintain the situational picture concerning the impact of the outbreak and of the state of emergency on the costs and income base of the municipality’s operation.

Processing of unemployment benefit applications is being accelerated starting 11 May 2020.

The Ministry of Health and Social Affairs has issued instructions to the Social Insurance Institution of Finland (Kela) and municipalities on how to handle social assistance applications as smoothly as possible during the coronavirus epidemic. Due to the crisis, clients’ chances of influencing, for example, their own employment or changing housing are now limited, so some of the requirements imposed on the client have been temporarily waived. Such appendices and explanations are not required that are not necessary in this exceptional situation. This will also reduce the workload of Kela and the municipalities. 

Fur producers are not eligible for the support for sole entrepreneurs because the de minimis regulation does not apply to primary production. The de minimis regulation applies to all sectors with the exception of primary agricultural production, fisheries and aquaculture because these have their own de minimis rules. However, to a limited extent, the regulation also applies to undertakings active in the processing and marketing of agricultural products. Fur producers, and farmers, can apply for the state guarantee for a liquidity loan. The call for applications is open at the moment. Finnvera can also guarantee loans, see question above.

Yes, sole entrepreneurs pay tax for the support they receive. Municipalities report the support directly to the tax authorities.

Start-up funding does not overlap with the support for sole entrepreneurs because it is intended to secure the entrepreneur’s income for the period which the business has been estimated to need for starting up and consolidating. In contrast, the support for sole entrepreneurs is intended to cover expenses for premises, equipment purchased for business activities, accounting and other office expenses.  Consequently, an entrepreneur may receive both start-up funding and support for sole entrepreneurs.

Even in an emergency situation, consultations concerning local detailed plans, local master plans and regional land use plans must be organised in such a way that stakeholders have the opportunity to influence them and have access to the documents. The Association of Finnish Local and Regional Authorities has advised the municipalities on how planning operations should be managed in the coronavirus situation. Guidance is provided (in Finnish) e.g. on how public access to documents can be organised if the City Hall, Town Hall or Municipal Hall is closed.
 
Association of Finnish Local and Regional Authorities: Frequently asked questions concerning municipalities, paragraphs 10 and 13 (in Finnish)

Higher education institutions, educational institutions and other organisations that provide exchange programmes and projects decide how, together with the organisations they cooperate with, to implement their international activities and agree on measures for both outgoing and incoming student mobility.

The higher education institutions and educational institutions are essentially the ones to make the decisions on postponing, suspending and reorganising student exchange periods. They must follow the official press releases, contact those participating in international projects and advise them to contact the Finnish Embassy or Consulate, if necessary, for further instructions.

The international activities of EU projects can be prematurely suspended, carried out with another partner, postponed to a later date or cancelled. Notice of cancellation or postponement must be given as soon as possible to the Finnish National Agency for Education, which gives advice on how to proceed.

It is possible to apply for compensation based on force majeure clauses for mobility periods and expenses financed by the national agency in Finland via the Erasmus Plus and the European Solidarity Corps programmes. Force majeure practices may vary from country to country. The national agency of the country financing the project is always the one to decide on the reimbursement of project costs. For this reason, it is essential that the coordinating organisation should direct the process in line with the instructions of the national agency financing the project.

For non-EU exchange programmes, contact the organisation providing the funding.

For more information, please first contact the international services of your educational institution.

 

The Finnish Competition and Consumer Authority (FCC) monitors the impact of the coronavirus outbreak on consumers. The FCC provides information on its website about the outbreak and how it may affect consumers with regard to travel or service and event cancellations. The FCC keeps updating the guidelines on its website as soon as it receives relevant information. Many cases may need to be resolved only afterwards and on a case-by-case basis.

FCC: Coronavirus and consumer rights
Consumer Advice Services answers: 12+1 questions on the Corona Virus

As a rule, yes. However, in case of cancellations, your consumer rights will depend on whether you are an independent traveller (for example, you have booked flights only) or whether you have purchased a travel package (for example, a combination of flights and a hotel). As a rule, the rights of consumers who have purchased a package deal are better than those of independent travellers who have purchased, for example, flights only.

For more information, please visit the FCC’s website

The main rule is that the price paid by the consumer for the service must normally be reimbursed. You should therefore contact the service provider.

For more information, please visit the FCC’s website

If the problem concerns consumer law, you should first try to negotiate with the other party and consult the instructions on the FCC website. If the matter does not progress, you can contact the Consumer Advisory Services, which provide information, instructions and help with mediation in disputes between consumers and businesses.

For more information, please visit the Consumer Advisory Services website
Consumer Advice Services answers: 12+1 questions on the Corona Virus

 

The coronavirus crisis can affect the financial situation of many people. What should you take into account if your income drops? What should you take into account if you are taking out a loan? You can find answers to these and many other questions on the website of the financial and debt counselling services.

If you need advice concerning your financial situation, you can contact a legal aid office providing financial and debt counselling services or the financial and debt counselling chat. The chat is open from Monday to Friday at 10–12. The chat and the contact details of the legal aid offices are available on the Oikeus.fi website.

Advices also on the website of the Finnish Competition and Consumer Authority

Published 26.3.2020 at 13.45, answer has been updated on 3 April 2020 at 16.05

The temporary interest rate cap of 10 per cent applies to consumer credits falling within the scope of application of chapter 7 of the Consumer Protection Act. The interest rate cap does not apply to goods-or-services-related credits, such as general credit card credits, car hire purchase and instalment payment options in e-commerce. 

The ban on direct marketing of consumer credits applies to consumer credits falling within the scope of application of chapter 7 of the Consumer Protection Act, including goods-or-services-related credits. 

The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry and Ministry of Social Affairs and Health have given recommendations to water supply plants, municipal health protection authorities supervising these and Centres for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment to secure water supply and sanitation during the coronavirus epidemic. 

According to current knowledge, it is not considered likely that the new coronavirus could spread via drinking water. The virus is also not considered to cause any particular risks to those working at wastewater treatment plants. 

The instructions do not mean any new obligations to water supply plants but their preparedness is based on the current legislation, mainly the Water Services Act and Health Protection Act. 

The Water Services Act obliges water supply plants to ensure access to water supply and sanitation services for properties in emergency situations as well. Water supply plants must draw up plans on their preparedness for disruptions and keep these up to date, and take the necessary measures on the basis of the plans. 

According to the Health Protection Act, health protection authorities must cooperate with other authorities and agencies and draw up a plan to prepare for disruptions affecting the environment where the people live. 

The functioning of water supply and sanitation must be secured to be able to maintain the basic functions of society also during the state of emergency caused by the coronavirus epidemic. Especially large population centres and operations that require a lot of clean water, such as those in healthcare centres, hospitals and food industry, are highly vulnerable to any disruptions in water supply and sanitation services. 

If the epidemic caused by the coronavirus expands, it is important that water supply plants and municipalities, together with the other water supply plants of the region, authorities and key customers using water services, make sure that their plans for disruptions and the instructions included in these are up to date. 

A situation that may threaten the functioning of water supply and sanitation is one where a large percentage of the staff falls ill at the same time. This is why water supply plants are urged to ensure sufficient resources for managing the critical water supply and sanitation tasks, making use of the plans for disruptions. 

Water supply plants are also urged to prepare for possible disruptions in the operations of service providers, including laboratories and suppliers of chemicals. 

Inquiries: 
Jarkko Rapala, Ministerial Adviser, Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, tel. +358 2951 63315, firstname.lastname(at)stm.fi 
Katri Vasama, Ministerial Adviser, Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Natural Resources and Water Management Unit, tel. +358 50 595 5317, firstname.lastname(at)mmm.fi 

The new coronavirus is transmitted directly from human to human. According to current knowledge, there is no evidence that the SARS-CoV-2 virus would spread or be transmitted to humans via food or via pets or farmed animals. E.g. in Belgium, France and Germany pets that have been in close contact with humans suffering from the coronavirus disease COVID-19, especially cats, have been reported as infected with the virus. In some cases the cats had shown no symptoms of the disease. Pets are considered to have no role in spreading the disease, but in all cases the virus had been transmitted from humans. Despite these quite rare and isolated cases considering the extent of the pandemic, pets can and must be cared for in the same way as usually, taking care of regular, good hand hygiene.

Besides pets, minks on four mink farms in the Netherlands have been found to carry the disease. In all these cases staff members caring for the animals had shown respiratory symptoms indicative of COVID-19.

Based on genetic analyses, it has been concluded that the coronavirus COVID-19 would originate from bats because its close relative has been found in Rhinolophus bat (horseshoe bat) populations. Studies on how the coronavirus was transmitted to humans are under way. The hypothesis is that the coronavirus would first have been transmitted from bats to an intermediate host where it had mutated into one that can be transmitted to humans.

Read more:
UN Food and Agriculture Organization FAO

The coronavirus crisis can affect the financial situation of many people. What should you take into account if your income drops? What should you take into account if you are taking out a loan? You can find answers to these and many other questions on the website of the financial and debt counselling services.

If you need advice concerning your financial situation, you can contact a legal aid office providing financial and debt counselling services or the financial and debt counselling chat. The chat is open from Monday to Friday at 10–12. The chat and the contact details of the legal aid offices are available on the Oikeus.fi website.

Advices also on the website of the Finnish Competition and Consumer Authority

Published 26.3.2020 at 13.45, answer has been updated on 3 April 2020 at 16.05

The provisions of the Emergency Powers Act do not give additional powers to the Defence Forces.

The Defence Forces are prepared to carry out the tasks necessary for preparedness in all circumstances. They have secured their leadership capability, regular personnel and conscripts are rotated in different tasks to minimise the risk of infection,

and the Defence Forces are prepared to give executive assistance to other authorities, when necessary.  This may include material or transport support or, for example, equipment, personnel and expert assistance needed in rescue operations.

Information on preparedness in the defence administration and the measures to be taken during the coronavirus epidemic are gathered on Ministry of Defence´s webpage.

Ministry of Defence: Preparing for coronavirus outbreak in defence administration
 

The webpage of The Finnish Defence Forces contains general information about the effects of the coronavirus on the Defence Forces and conscript service. 

COVID-19 and the Finnish Defence Forces 

The temporary interest rate cap of 10 per cent applies to consumer credits falling within the scope of application of chapter 7 of the Consumer Protection Act. The interest rate cap does not apply to goods-or-services-related credits, such as general credit card credits, car hire purchase and instalment payment options in e-commerce. 

The ban on direct marketing of consumer credits applies to consumer credits falling within the scope of application of chapter 7 of the Consumer Protection Act, including goods-or-services-related credits. 

Finland’s missions abroad keep their own websites and social media channels updated on current information on the impact of the coronavirus situation on the processing of visa and residence permit applications.

https://um.fi/finland-abroad

The main rule is to restrict unnecessary travel. According to the Border Guard’s guidelines, third-country nationals who have been granted a residence permit may enter Finland starting from 1 May 2020. Residence permits for seasonal workers are not included in this category. They are treated as their own special group. To be allowed to enter Finland, a third-country national with a residence permit for seasonal work entering Finland for the first must be included in the seasonal worker quota of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry.

No. The current legislation does not allow reimbursement of the application processing fee.

No. The current legislation does not allow reimbursement of the application processing fee.

The residence permit will remain in effect for the duration of the layoff. An extended permit may be granted on condition that the employee has had secure means of subsistence while the previous permit was in effect. More information on working and unemployment benefits while laid off  is available the websites of Kela and the TE Office.

More information on the Finnish Immigration Service’s website

On 30 March, the Government decided to organise the management of the COVID-19 crisis at the central government level. The COVID-19 Coordination Group set up in February, which initially consisted of the Permanent Secretaries and Heads of Preparedness of the ministries responsible for handling the coronavirus situation, was expanded to cover the Permanent Secretaries of all ministries. The task of the coordination group is to implement the decisions made by the Government to curb the coronavirus epidemic and to coordinate cooperation between the ministries. 

Although we are no longer in a state of emergency, we are still maintaining preparedness. The COVID-19 Coordination Group will continue its activities in the summer and assess the situation on a weekly basis. 

Central government management of the coronavirus situation

The following situations are considered emergencies:

• An armed or equally serious attack against Finland and the immediate aftermath of such an attack;
• A considerable threat of an armed or equally serious attack against Finland such that preventing its effects requires the immediate use of statutory powers in accordance with the Emergency Powers Act
• A serious event or threat to the livelihood of the population or to the foundations of the national economy, as a result of which the functions vital to society are at risk;
• A major catastrophe and its immediate aftermath;
• A widespread outbreak of a serious communicable disease, the effect of which is comparable to a major disaster.

 

The Emergency Powers Act lays down provisions on the power of authorities in emergency conditions. The Act also lays down provisions on how the authorities should prepare for emergencies. The powers defined in the Emergency Powers Act can be exercised only if authorities cannot control the situation with normal powers.

The decision to use the powers laid down in the Emergency Powers Act is made by Government decree (enforcement decree).

The Emergency Powers Act lays down provisions on the use of various powers in emergency situations. The present situation does not mean that all powers included in the Act would have become applicable, but only certain individual powers are now being applied. During a communicable disease epidemic the Emergency Powers Act allows, for example, to decide how education is being organised.

The purpose of the Emergency Powers Act is to secure the livelihood of the population and the national economy, to maintain legal order and fundamental and human rights, and to safeguard the territorial integrity and independence of Finland in emergency conditions.

Based on the epidemiological and legal assessment presented to the Government, the coronavirus epidemic can now be managed using the regular powers of the authorities. For this reason, in its plenary session on 15 June, the Government issued a decree repealing the use of powers under the Emergency Powers Act, meaning that the powers laid down in the Emergency Powers Act no longer apply. The state of emergency ended on 16 June.

Use of powers under the Emergency Powers Act to end – state of emergency to be lifted on Tuesday 16 June (Press release 15 June)

The end of the state of emergency does not mean that the situation has passed or that there is no longer a risk of a resurgence of the epidemic. The restrictions and recommendations continue to be in force because they are part of the efforts to prevent the epidemic from resurging.

In line with the Government’s hybrid strategy, the powers laid down in other legislation for normal conditions, in particular the Communicable Diseases Act, will continue to be applied. In addition, the situation is being managed through regulations, guidelines and recommendations issued by the authorities.

Restrictions and recommendations 

In March 2020, it was assessed based on the overall situation that the authorities would need additional powers to deal with the situation and protect the population from the spread of the coronavirus.

On 16 March, the Government, in cooperation with the President of the Republic, declared a state of emergency in Finland due to the coronavirus outbreak. The Government submitted its decree on the use of powers under the Emergency Powers Act to Parliament on 17 March.

Use of powers laid down in the Emergency Powers Act during the COVID-19 epidemic (in Finnish) | eduskunta.fi