Finland
Capital: Helsinki
Currency: Euro- EUR
Finland Labor Law and Employment Policy Overview
Employment Law Overview
- Key Laws and Regulations:
- Employment Contracts Act
- Working Hours Act
- Annual Holidays Act
- Sick Leave Act
- Maternity Leave Act
- Paternity Leave Act
- Severance Pay Act
- Legal Characteristics:
- Emphasis on employee rights and protection
- Encourages social dialogue and collective bargaining
- Flexible, allowing employers and employees to negotiate terms based on specific circumstances
Employment Contract Requirements
- Contract Types:
- Fixed-term contracts (up to two years)
- Indefinite-term contracts
- Contractual Terms:
- Must include the following terms:
- Identity of employer and employee
- Date of commencement of employment
- Employee's duties
- Salary
- Working hours
- Annual leave
- Notice period for termination of contract
- Probationary period (if applicable)
- Must include the following terms:
- Language and Currency:
- Contracts must be written in Finnish or Swedish.
- Currency must be in euros.
Working Hours Regulations
- Standard Working Hours:
- 40 hours per week
- 8 hours per day
- Rest Days and Breaks:
- At least 36 hours of rest per week
- At least 11 hours of rest per day
Leave Policies
- Annual Leave:
- 30 days per year
- Accrued at a rate of 2.5 days per month
- Public Holidays:
- 10
- Special Leaves:
- Sick leave: 9 days of full pay from employer
- Maternity leave: 105 days
- Paternity leave: 54 days
- Parental leave: 158 days
Employee Severance and Termination of Contract
- Notice Periods:
- 0-1 year: 14 days
- 1-4 years: 1 month
- 4-8 years: 2 months
- 8-12 years: 4 months
- 12+ years: 6 months
- Severance Pay:
- No statutory severance pay, but can be agreed upon in employment contract.
- Protection Against Unfair Dismissal:
- Employees have the right to compensation for unfair dismissal.
Tax Laws
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Personal Income Tax:
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Salary Range (EUR) Tax Rate 0 - 19,900 0% 19,900 - 29,700 6% 29,700 - 49,000 17.25% 49,000 - 85,800 21.25% 85,800+ 31.25%
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Social Security Contributions:
- Employee: 1.53% (health insurance)
- Employer: 21.70% (health insurance, pension insurance, unemployment insurance, group life insurance, accident insurance)
Health Insurance
- Insurance Policy:
- Employees are required to participate in the universal healthcare system.
- Coverage:
- Basic medical services, dental care, mental health services
Compensation and Benefits
- Minimum Wage:
- No statutory minimum wage.
- Compensation Structure:
- Typically includes base salary, bonuses, allowances.
Work Permits and Visas
- Permit Requirements:
- Citizens from outside the EU/EEA require a work permit.
- Application Process:
- Employer must apply for a work permit from the Finnish Immigration Service.
Confidentiality and Non-Compete Clauses
- Enforceability:
- Confidentiality and non-compete clauses are enforceable in Finland, but must be reasonable.
- Common Provisions:
- Confidentiality clauses typically restrict employees from disclosing confidential information.
- Non-compete clauses typically restrict employees from working for competitors for a certain period of time.
Training and Development
- Legal Requirements:
- Employers must provide safety training and skills development training.
- Government Support:
- Government provides funding and incentives to support training and development.
Workplace Diversity and Inclusion
- Legal Requirements:
- Discrimination based on race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, or disability is prohibited.
- Enforcement Measures:
- Employers must have policies and procedures in place to prevent discrimination.
Remote Work Policies
- Legal Framework:
- Remote work is supported by law, but must be agreed upon by employer and employee.
- Tax and Insurance Implications:
- Remote work may impact tax and social security obligations.
Authoritative Website Addresses
- Finnish Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment: https://tem.fi/en/