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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.

12.6.2025 | From 1 July 2025 onwards, pregnant people will be offered the whooping cough (pertussis) vaccine as part of the national vaccination programme. Studies show that vaccination during pregnancy is effective in protecting newborns from getting whooping cough. The vaccine is safe for both the mother and the foetus. Having the vaccine will be voluntary.

6.2.2025 | The Government adopted a resolution on the Government Action Plan for Gender Equality 2024–2027 at its session on 6 february 2025. The Action Plan contains 50 measures, and it has a strong emphasis on the prevention of violence against women. The Action Plan is based on the Programme of Prime Minister Orpo’s Government.

20.12.2022 | The President of the Republic has approved the amendments to the Abortion Act. In future, a pregnancy may be terminated solely based on the pregnant woman’s request until the end of the twelfth week of pregnancy. In the 1970 Act, an opinion by two doctors was required in most cases for the termination of pregnancy, and grounds had to be presented.

28.6.2024 | The Government and central labour market organisations have negotiated joint equal pay measures for the period 2024–2027. The aim of the Equal Pay Programme is to further reduce the gender pay gap. In addition to the measures set out in the Programme, there are other measures underway to reduce the pay gap.

5.12.2022 | Finland’s additional support will help the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) provide mobile health services, safe births and family planning for women who have been forced from their homes by the drought and food crisis in Somalia.

14.12.2021 | A tripartite working group prepared a number of legislative amendments for the implementation of the Work-life Balance Directive and the Finnish family leave reform. In addition, the group compared the current labour legislation with the Government’s objectives to improve gender equality at work and in families.

20.12.2022 | From 1 January 2023 onwards, the wellbeing services counties must provide necessary non-urgent healthcare services for undocumented persons and persons whose status resembles that of an undocumented person. 

13.1.2022 | The number of parental leave days will increase and there will be more flexibility for parents to take leave. The reform aims to increase equality in working life and between parents and to take better account of different types of families. The new types of parental leave will mainly apply to families where the child’s estimated date of birth is 4 September 2022 or later.   

23.2.2023 | The Government's cross-sectoral working group on gender equality has assessed the progress of the action plan and prepared a final report. The final report concludes that a large number of the measures in the gender equality action plan were achieved, despite the crises that shook the world. The Government discussed the progress of the Action Plan for Gender Equality in its evening session on 22 February.

20.1.2022 | The Government has amended the Decree on Communicable Diseases in respect of notifications to be submitted to the communicable diseases register maintained by the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare. From now on, physicians will not be required to submit communicable disease notifications of severe infections caused by the novel coronavirus.

16.2.2021 | The Government has completed and published its draft proposal for the family leave reform. The draft proposal will be circulated for comments between 19 February and 2 April 2021. 

24.1.2020 | A tripartite working group appointed by the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment started its work on 24 January 2020. The working group will prepare the amendments to Finnish labour legislation required by the EU’s Work-life Balance Directive. Carers’ entitlement to five days of leave included in the Directive requires amendments to the Employment Contracts Act.

11.11.2019 | -

12.11.2019 | -

5.2.2020 | The reform of parental allowances has created a model for further preparation. The model guarantees the child a place at the centre of family benefits and promotes wellbeing and gender equality, says Aino-Kaisa Pekonen, Minister of Social Affairs and Health.

9.6.2020 | Supporting women human rights defenders, preventing female genital mutilation, training business skills – civil society organisations promote the rights of women and girls in many ways Ministry for Foreign Affairs Publication date 9.6.2020 13.55 T...

21.12.2022 | Finland supports UN agencies in their work to promote stability and human rights. Authoritarian states, conflicts, the food and climate crises and the COVID-19 pandemic are increasing inequality and weakening security and wellbeing worldwide.

25.11.2021 | Finland and Kenya are cooperating to reduce violence against women and girls in Kenya, where gender-based violence has increased during the COVID-19 pandemic. With Finland’s support, Kenya also aims to increase the number of women in leadership positions.

19.4.2021 | Minister for Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade of Finland Ville Skinnari delivered the statement on behalf of the governments and peoples of 81 countries.