Finnish Employment / Labour Law and Non-union Dispute Resolution

Finnish Employment Law
Non-union Dispute Resolution in Finland

Finnish Employment Law

AVRIO International Law Firms Association has an excellent web page titled Finnish Employment Law which addresses:

• Applicable laws/acts
• The scope of an employment contract
• Prohibition of discrimination, and equal treatment
• Employer’s obligations
• Employee’s obligations

• Indefinite or fixed term contact

• Termination of an Employment Contract
• The grounds for termination
• Procedure for terminating an employment contract
• Compensation for groundless termination
• more...

Go to Finnish Employment Law

See also:
Finnish Employment Contract
Ministry of Labour's publication Industrial Relations and Labour Legislation in Finland (PDF, 06/2006)
Ministry of Labour's Web site: Labour Legislation (information & employment-related Acts)

Can't read PDF's?

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Non-union Dispute Resolution in Finland

If you are a member of a Finnish union see Trade Unions: Dispute Resolution

If you are not a union member and not covered by a collective agreement, you are still protected by Finnish employment law. While individual labour disputes can be settled in regular courts (as opposed to the Labour Court for resolution of collective agreement disputes), this is a last resort and alternative settlement is highly preferable.

Settlement Outside Court

Expat Finland has been hunting hard for information about this - if you know anything more definitive, please tell us. The following will hopefully be of help:

• If you have a legal mind, familiarise yourself with the appropriate employment law;
  see the Ministry of Labour's Web site: Labour Legislation
  If you feel this has strengthened your argument, re-approach your employer
   
• Contact the Aliens' Ombudsman at the Ministry of Labour:
  Address: Eteläesplanadi 4, Helsinki
  Postal: P.O. Box 34, FIN-00023 Valtioneuvosto
  Tel: 09 18561
   
• Contact the Ministry of Labour and ask for/about the National Conciliators' Office (Valtakunnansovittelijain toimisto), which is responsible for arbitration:
  PL 34, 00023 Valtioneuvosto
  Tel: 09 160 06
  Fax: 09 160 48990
  E-mail:kirjaamo.tyoministerio@mol.fi
   
• Contact the Service Centre for Small Employers; they provides advice to employers and employees on issues related to employment. Service is fee-based.
  Tel: 0200 6600 (Mon - Fri from 08:00 - 16:15)
  Service fee 1 euro per minute + local network charge
   
• Contact the Finnish Bar Association regarding mediation; they charge fees for mediation, but you should get some advice over the phone.
  Web site (English - click flag/ Finnish / Swedish)
  Simonkatu 12 B 20, 00100 Helsinki
  Tel. 09 6866 120
  Fax 9 6866 1299
  E-mail: info@barassociation.fi
  

Settlement in a Finnish Court

Labour law disputes concerning the following matters generally lie within the jurisdiction of regular courts:

• interpretation of individual employment contracts
• claims based on individual employment contracts or on legislation pertaining to such contacts
• individual claims based on collective agreements in as far as such disputes are not to be tried by the Labour Court
• prosecutions for violation of labour legislation (employment contracts, hours of work, annual holidays, health and safety, etc.)
• claims for damage resulting from such violations

If you have to proceed to this stage, get some legal advice! Good luck.

See also:
Ministry of Labour's publication Industrial Relations and Labour Legislation in Finland (PDF, 06/2006)
Ministry of Labour's Web site: Labour Legislation (information & employment-related Acts)

Can't read PDF's?

Return to top