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14.12.2023 | On 14 December 2023, the Government submitted to Parliament a proposal for changes to the Posted Workers Act. The Act would be amended to better meet the requirements of two EU Directives. The Government’s proposal is based on infringement proceedings the European Commission has initiated against Finland.

14.8.2023 | Finland is deploying the first group of 24 rescue workers on Wednesday 16 August to help Portugal manage wildfires.

29.10.2020 | The amendments to the Act will promote equal treatment of posted workers vis-à-vis national employees as regards terms of employment. In addition, the Act aims to improve equal competition between companies. Amendments to national law will implement the amendments made to EU legislation.

4.7.2025 | In its meeting on Friday 4 July, the Ministerial Committee on European Union Affairs outlined Finland’s positions on the Commission’s proposal to simplify regulation for businesses and received an update on the preparation of a plan for affordable housing in the EU.

26.3.2020 | The tripartite working group proposes amendments to the Posted Workers Act that helps to ensure that local and posted workers doing the same job at the same place will have the same working and wage conditions. The amendments would also promote equal competition between foreign and domestic companies.

16.5.2022 | The Working in Finland brochure, published by the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment, is now available in 24 languages to inform workers about their rights and where to find help in case of suspected exploitation. A multilingual advisory service for seasonal workers also combats exploitation of labour. 

25.7.2023 | By decision of the Ministry of the Interior, Finland is preparing to send 48 rescue workers to Portugal to help manage wildfires. The Emergency Services Academy Finland is the employer of the rescue service personnel who will be deployed to Portugal.

25.11.2021 | The social security agreement between Finland and Japan will enter into force on 1 February 2022. Ville Skinnari, Minister for Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade, and Takashi Murata, Japan’s Ambassador to Finland, exchanged notes on 25 November to bring the bilateral agreement into force. When the agreement enters into force, workers posted to a Contracting State will avoid double pension and unemployment insurance contributions.

1.8.2023 | The European Commission has revised the Blue Card, a residence permit for highly skilled workers from outside the EU. The Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment requests comments on the draft government proposal for transposing the new Blue Card rules into Finnish law. Comments should be submitted by September 12, 2023 on the public consultation website Lausuntopalvelu.fi (available in Finnish and Swedish).

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.

24.7.2019 | (Check against delivery) Madam Chair, Members of the European Parliament, First of all, I would like to congratulate the chair and vice-chairs of this committee on your new appointments. We look forward to working together with you constructively, in Europe’s best interest.

16.1.2019 | The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, together with other authorities and actors, has prepared for the United Kingdom’s withdrawal from the European Union (or Brexit). In a vote held on 15 January, the British Parliament rejected the UK withdrawal agreement from the European Union. The result of the vote does not mean an immediate withdrawal without any agreement. Further plans of the United Kingdom are expected to be announced within the next few days.

28.7.2023 | The EU has updated its Single Market Scoreboard especially with regard to the transposition of EU legislation in 2022. The results indicate that Member States have made some progress in implementing and enforcing the single market rules despite the shock to the single market caused by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Finland’s performance continues to be above EU average.

10.12.2020 | On 28 October 2020, the European Commission presented a proposal for a Directive on adequate minimum wages in the EU. The Government supports the proposal’s objective to combat in-work poverty, for example by improving the role of labour market organisations in wage formation and their ability to negotiate and agree wages through collective agreements.

13.9.2022 | In 2006–2022, the Rural Village Water Resources Management Project in the Far West regions of Nepal brought clean water to more than 600,000 people. At the same time, it promoted health and food security, advanced the rights of women and minorities, and improved economic livelihoods.

10.12.2020 | According to Minister of Finance Matti Vanhanen, the recommendations set out in the OECD’s Economic Survey of Finland, published on 10 December, should be closely studied.

17.7.2020 | The German Presidency of the Council of the EU will organise an informal video conference of EU ministers responsible for employment and social affairs on 17 July 2020. The purpose of the meeting is to discuss various measures that support the post-COVID-19 recovery of working life. No decisions will be made at the informal meeting. Saila Ruuth, State Secretary to Minister of Social Affairs and Health Aino-Kaisa Pekonen, will represent Finland at the meeting.

20.12.2019 | The Council of the European Union, the European Parliament and the European Commission have reached a provisional agreement on the proposals included in the EU Mobility Package I concerning market access for freight and passenger transport, driving and rest times, and rules on posting of transport workers. The aim of the Mobility Package is to harmonise the regulation of commercial freight and passenger transport in the EU and to improve the conditions for supervision.

20.12.2019 | The Council of the European Union, the European Parliament and the European Commission have reached a provisional agreement on the proposals included in the EU Mobility Package I concerning market access for freight and passenger transport, driving and rest times, and rules on posting of transport workers. The aim of the Mobility Package is to harmonise the regulation of commercial freight and passenger transport in the EU and to improve the conditions for supervision.

27.9.2019 | 26.9.2019