Search

23.6.2025 | The EU General Affairs Council (GAC) will meet in Luxembourg on Tuesday 24 June to prepare for the June European Council. The ministers will also continue their annual rule of law dialogue with a country-specific discussion on the rule of law situation in Finland. Minister for European Affairs and Ownership Steering Joakim Strand will represent Finland at the meeting.

29.11.2024 | At its meeting on Friday 29 November, the Ministerial Committee on European Union Affairs received an update on the EU’s climate targets and outlined Finland’s positions on the Commission’s proposal for a directive to harmonise insolvency law.

18.12.2025 | The Government will address the difficulties of foreign students and their families. On 18 December 2025, the ministerial working group on internal security and administration of justice outlined legislative changes regarding requirements for student livelihood and language skills.

26.1.2024 | The proposal for a regulation banning products made with forced labour in the EU market has advanced to trilogues between representatives of the European Parliament, the Council of the European Union and the European Commission. The Regulation is part of a legislative package on responsible business operations.

2.7.2025 | About 2,600 wild-berry pickers were granted a seasonal work visa for Finland for summer 2025. About 60 applicants received a negative decision.

29.10.2025 | As part of the lecture series "Raffles lecture" at the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) in Singapore Minister Elina Valtonen delivered the following speech on 28th October 2025.

10.12.2019 | EU employment ministers gave guidance to the new European Commission regarding the Member States’ main objectives for EU labour law and social dialogue. Nicolas Schmit, the new Commissioner for Jobs and Social Rights, briefed the ministers on the Commission’s plans for the next five-year period.

6.6.2025 | ​​​​​​​The Baltic Pride Conference, taking place in Vilnius on 6 June, will discuss the inclusion and rights of LGBTI people. The event will be opened by State Secretary Laura Rissanen as part of Finland’s Presidency of the Nordic Council of Ministers.

13.5.2020 | Surveys suggest that SMEs need more information about laws and regulations that apply to working life. Advice on working life regulation and employment practices can support employment, prevent disputes in the workplace, improve the functioning of the labour market and increase cooperation between employers and employees.

12.6.2025 | The legislation aims to ensure the continuity of society’s critical functions during industrial action if the parties cannot by negotiation reach an agreement on the provision of essential work during the action. The Government proposes that the President of the Republic approve the legislative amendments on 13 June 2025. The amendments would come into force on 16 June 2025.

13.3.2025 | On 13 March 2025, the Government submitted to Parliament its proposal that aims to ensure essential work is performed during industrial action. The legislative project is based on a resolution issued by Parliament in 2022, the implementation of which is included in the Programme of Prime Minister Petteri Orpo’s Government.

19.12.2024 | On 19 December 2024, the President of the Republic approved the amendments to the legislation concerning the conciliation system. The amendments will enter into force on 1 January 2025.

25.8.2025 | "Our task is to promote a world in which as many people as possible—regardless of country of birth and circumstances—can live their lives safely and freely, and be happy. That is Finland’s story."

19.12.2024 | On 19 December 2024, the President of the Republic approved legislative amendments that will enable more local collective bargaining in companies. The amendments will enter into force on 1 January 2025.

5.12.2019 | The Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council (EPSCO) will meet for the last time during Finland’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union in Brussels on 9–10 December. Health ministers will meet on the first day, and ministers responsible for employment, social affairs and gender equality on the second day.

27.1.2026 | Prime Minister Petteri Orpo is in China for an official visit from 24 to 29 January. On Tuesday 27 January, Prime Minister Orpo met for separate discussions with President Xi Jinping, Prime Minister Li Qiang and Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress Zhao Leji. In all three discussions, Prime Minister Orpo highlighted Finland’s and Europe’s support for Ukraine, EU-China relations and a variety of bilateral issues, including increasing Finland’s exports to China.

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. 

27.8.2025 | "I’m glad to see strong momentum for Nordic cooperation. Our goal is a united and strong Nordic region that benefits us all."

23.2.2021 | The Ministry for Foreign Affairs has sent the draft law concerning the amendment of the Aliens Act, prepared in cooperation with the authorities, for a round of consultation. It proposes that Finland would also adopt the national D visa. The proposal establishes the visa application and the prerequisites for issuing.

5.9.2024 | Because of the reform, local collective bargaining would be possible regardless of whether the company belongs to an employers' association or what kind of employee representation the company has.