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17.1.2017 | Hallituskausi_2011-2015_fi-en.tmx Neuvottelutulos hallitusohjelmasta PROGRAMME OF THE FINNISH GOVERNMENT Avoin, oikeudenmukainen ja rohkea Suomi An open, fair and confident Finland Jyrki Kataisen hallituksen tavoitteena on välittävä ja menestyvä S...

17.1.2017 | Hallituskausi_2011-2015_fi-en.tmx Neuvottelutulos hallitusohjelmasta PROGRAMME OF THE FINNISH GOVERNMENT Avoin, oikeudenmukainen ja rohkea Suomi An open, fair and confident Finland Jyrki Kataisen hallituksen tavoitteena on välittävä ja menestyvä S...

18.2.2021 | Entrepreneurs and self-employed persons are entitled to labour market support because of the coronavirus pandemic under a temporary amendment to the Unemployment Security Act in force until the end of March. On 18 February 2021, the Government submitted a proposal to Parliament to extend the right of entrepreneurs and self-employed persons to labour market support until 30 June 2021. The aim is to ensure the livelihood of entrepreneurs and self-employed persons during the pandemic.

28.1.2021 | The right of entrepreneurs to claim labour market support will continue until the end of June 2021. The Government decided on the matter on 27 January 2021 and the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment will start preparing the legislative amendment immediately.

30.6.2022 | The Act on Työkanava Ltd will enter into force on 1 July. The company’s business operations will begin in stages during 2022. Työkanava will receive additional funding from the supplementary budget in July to launch its operations. Sari Nikkola will start as the company’s chief executive on 1 September 2022.

20.1.2022 | Entrepreneurs have been temporarily entitled to labour market support on more flexible terms during the coronavirus pandemic. Due to the deteriorating coronavirus situation, the Government submitted a proposal to Parliament on Thursday 20 January 2022 to extend the temporary amendment.

21.5.2025 | English Style Guide A handbook for translators, revisers and authors of government texts Prime Minister’s Office, Finland ENGLISH STYLE GUIDE | PRIME MINISTER’S OFFICE, FINLAND | 2025 2 Contents Quick reference guide .................................

21.5.2025 | English Style Guide A handbook for translators, revisers and authors of government texts Prime Minister’s Office, Finland ENGLISH STYLE GUIDE | PRIME MINISTER’S OFFICE, FINLAND | 2025 2 Contents Quick reference guide .................................

3.2.2023 | More than 45,000 people who fled Ukraine last year may be eligible for a municipality of residence in 2023 after residing in Finland for one year, with about 13,000 already satisfying the qualifying period of residence in March–April. On registering a municipality of residence, they will leave the reception services system and become clients of municipalities and wellbeing services counties. This will make them a more integrated part of society in Finland.

13.6.2024 | The Government is seeking to strengthen the link between work and work-based residence permits, and to improve permit supervision. Worker’s residence permit holders in Finland would also have better opportunities to find new employment in sectors with a labour shortage. The Government proposal has been circulated for comments between 13 June and 16 August 2024.

2.6.2025 | The Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment is organising a consultation round from 2 June to 28 July 2025 on legislative amendments to the grounds for fixed-term employment contracts, the duration of the notice period for layoffs and the re-employment obligation of employers. The proposed amendments have been prepared in a tripartite working group that was not unanimous in its work.

17.10.2024 | The Government is seeking to strengthen the link between work and work-based residence permits, and to make permit supervision after the entry into Finland more systematic. The proposal takes the long recruitment times of specialists into consideration. At the same time, the proposal would offer foreigners more opportunities to find new work in the national labour shortage sectors. 

15.1.2026 | Under the proposal, a fixed-term employment contract could be concluded without a justified reason for a maximum of one year if certain conditions are met. The Government also proposes to shorten the notice period for lay-offs and to limit the employer’s obligation to re-employ dismissed employees. The proposal for the amendments was submitted to Parliament on 15 January 2026.

3.9.2024 | The 2025 budget proposal of Prime Minister Orpo's Government bolsters conditions for economic growth. Economic growth driven by the private sector will also serve to secure the financing base for central government finances. The fast-acting measures to curb indebtedness that were decided on due to the difficult situation in central government finances will move forward.

15.3.2021 | The Sustainable Growth Programme for Finland will boost investment in emissions reducing solutions, accelerate sustainable growth in the economy, and create long-term growth potential. Half of the funding involved will be for promoting a green transition, and about a quarter will be for digitalisation. The Programme will also boost public investment in research, development and innovation by approximately EUR 700 million.

29.4.2021 | The Government is committed to a long-term approach in its work to raise the employment rate through decisions that will bring an estimated 80,000 new jobs.

21.10.2021 | A state-owned special assignment company named Työkanava Ltd will be established in Finland. Its task is to promote the employment of people with partial work ability who are in the most difficult labour market position. The company would support their skills so that the people could find employment in the open labour market after working at Työkanava.

7.6.2022 | Speech to Parliament presenting the 2021 Government Annual Report for referral debate on Tuesday 7 June at 14.00

6.10.2022 | The Government’s proposal to comprehensively reform the Act on the Promotion of Immigrant Integration (hereinafter, the Integration Act) aims to strengthen the inclusion of immigrants in society and to make the promotion of integration more efficient. Another goal is to increase equality and wellbeing and advance good relations between population groups. The reform seeks to facilitate the path of immigra...

12.5.2021 | Entrepreneurs have been temporarily entitled to labour market support because of the coronavirus pandemic. On 12 May 2021, the Government submitted a proposal to Parliament to extend the right of entrepreneurs to labour market support until 30 September 2021. The aim is to ensure the livelihood of entrepreneurs in the uncertain situation caused by the pandemic.

9.2.2021 | At the request of Minister of Employment Tuula Haatainen, Director General of Finnish Customs Hannu Mäkinen has formulated a proposal to improve the opportunities of people with partial work ability to find employment. Mäkinen proposes that Finland should take Sweden’s Samhall company as a model, but adapt it to the Finnish needs.

11.2.2022 | As part of its commitment to raise the employment rate, the Government decided on new employment measures on 11 February 2022 that will boost its existing measures.

26.1.2022 | Employment and economic development services (TE services) are set to be transferred to municipalities during 2024. The Government’s decision is related to its aim to raise the employment rate and to increase municipal responsibility for employment services. The reform will have a broad impact on the employees and duties of both TE Offices and municipalities.

25.3.2022 | Finland grants temporary protection to those fleeing the war in Ukraine. Those granted temporary protection have the right to work without any restrictions or delay as soon as they have been issued a residence permit and a residence permit card. They can also register as jobseekers at the TE Office and receive employment support services, says an instructional leaflet prepared by the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment, which will be distributed to people arriving at Finland’s borders. 

15.2.2023 | During 2019–2023, the Government’s working capacity programme sought solutions to the employment problems of people with impaired capacity to work. At the same time, the programme developed more effective services to support working capacity. The closing event of the programme on 15 February examined the employment of people with impaired work capacity from the perspective of social sustainability, inclusion and the service system.

2.12.2021 | The Ministerial Working Group on Promoting Employment decided on 2 December 2021 on the funding model for the TE services reform 2024 as an incentive for municipalities to develop and offer efficient employment services. The ministerial working group also refined its previous outlines on tasks that are centralised nationally and tasks that are transferring to the municipalities.

15.6.2022 | The EU ministers responsible for employment and social affairs will meet at the Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council (EPSCO) in Luxembourg on 16 June 2022. Finland’s representatives at the Council will be Minister of Employment Tuula Haatainen and Minister of Social Affairs and Health Hanna Sarkkinen. 

24.3.2021 | The employment service pilots (TE pilots) launched by the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment during spring 2021 are part of the Government’s working capacity programme, which aims to improve access to and conditions of employment for persons with partial work ability or disabilities, and to coordinate services better. 

2.5.2022 | The objective of the legislative proposal is also to promote social inclusion, health and wellbeing of immigrants, to increase equality and to strengthen good relations between population groups. According to the proposal to be sent out for comments, services promoting integration would be organised as part of the municipal integration programme and other services. 

22.6.2021 | To boost the employment of persons with partial work capacity, the Government decided in its mid-term policy review session to set up a state-owned company with a special assignment. The company is tasked with recruiting such persons for longer-term employment relationships and providing them with support in carrying out their duties. Another objective is to promote the opportunities for employees to advance in their careers and take up employment with new employers.

23.3.2023 | On 23 March 2023, the President of the Republic approved a legislative package on the reorganisation of public employment and business services. The responsibility for organising such services will be transferred from the central government to municipalities on 1 January 2025. The reform aims to create a service structure that promotes the rapid employment of jobseekers by utilising all opportunities offered by municipal services.

1.11.2022 | This autumn’s Occupational Barometer indicates that the increase in labour shortages has levelled off. At the national level, the Occupational Barometer nevertheless identified 56 shortage occupations out of 200 key occupations.

7.7.2022 | The consultation round for the draft legislative proposal of the TE services reform 2024 ended on 27 June 2022. A total of 373 statements were submitted by the deadline. Based on the feedback, the Ministerial Working Group on Promoting Employment outlined certain new policies on 7 July concerning, among other things, the responsibility of municipalities for organising services, the provision of services, and the funding model.

13.4.2023 | The comprehensive reform of the Integration Act, which will enter into force in 2025, will improve integration and strengthen the inclusion of immigrants in society. The reform will facilitate the path of immigrants towards employment and improve the access of immigrant women and others outside the labour force to services.

14.12.2021 | The Ministerial Group on Employment outlined a separate solution for the TE services reform 2024, specifying responsibilities for financing integration services. The solution takes into account the special features of integration, but at the same time encourages municipalities to develop services and promote the integration and employment of immigrants at a very early stage of integration. 

10.11.2022 | On 10 November 2022, the Government proposed amendments to the Act on Funding Agency for Innovation Business Finland and Business Finland Oy and the Act on Public Employment and Business Service.

8.6.2021 | A group of researchers led by Professor Markus Jäntti proposes that the Government implement measures that studies have shown to promote employment. The Government will examine these proposals when it prepares employment measures to strengthen the economy.

11.4.2023 | In order to thwart the risk of prolonged unemployment, it is important that people who have been unemployed for longer than a year find work quickly. Long-term unemployment is often related to a diagnosis of an illness and lack of education. Education plays a minor role in the employment plans of the long-term unemployed.

28.1.2022 | Entrepreneurs have been temporarily entitled to labour market support on more flexible terms during the coronavirus pandemic. Due to the deteriorating coronavirus situation, this temporary amendment will continue. The President of the Republic confirmed the legislative amendment on 28 January 2022, and it will enter into force on 31 January 2022.

28.6.2021 | The Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment has circulated for comments a Government proposal, which will create the legislative basis for a new digital service platform for employment services (TE Services). The new service platform would improve the matching of employees with jobs and make employment services more efficient.