 Working
Hours
Wages
Accident
Insurance
Holidays
Additional
Information
Working
Hours
Regular working hours are usually at most 8 daily hours
and 40 weekly hours. In a two-week period the working hours
are not more than 80 hours and in a three-week period 120
hours. The weekly hours may also be arranged in longer periods
during which the average weekly hours do not exceed
40 hours. The working hours may be arranged by law or collective
agreements alternatively, for ex. in two- or three-week periods.
Each workplace must have a work schedule from which the
workers regular working hours, beginning and ending times
and the placement of the rest periods can be read. To avoid
possible misunderstandings employees should keep their own
record of their worked hours and received wages.
More Information:
Työsuojelupiirit provides
information on the definition of working time,
flexible hours, shift-work, overtime, time-keeping
and more.
Wages
There is no universal minimum wage in Finland. The collective
agreement in most employment branches determines the pay
and other minimum employment terms. It is also possible to
agree on benefits such as food and residence in addition
to the wage.
Wages in collective agreements are generally determined
according to the employees' professional skills, experience
and the geographical situation of the workplace.
Pay during illness
After working for the same employer for at least a month,
employees have the right to receive sick-leave pay if they
are unable to work during to illness or injury. To be entitled
to sick-leave pay the working inability must be determined
in a way satisfactory to the employer (for ex. a doctors
certificate). In the case of an employment that has lasted
less than a month, sick leave will be compensated with
50% of the normal wages. According to the law the employee
is entitled to sick-leave payment for nine days, but usually
the payment period is longer according to the applicable
collective agreement.
Increased pay for overtime
Working hours exceeding the regular working hours are overtime
hours. Overtime is compensated with additional, higher
pay:
- for the first two daily hours of overtime normal
pay is increased by 50% and for the following hours
by 100%
- weekly over-time hours are increased by 50%. The 12 first
overtime hours of a two-week period and the 18 first hours
of a three-week period are increased by 50 % and the following
hours with double pay.
- Sunday work is paid with doubled wages
- Separate evening and night work compensations are paid
according to the collective agreements
More Information:
Työsuojelupiirit provides
information on minimum, normal and reasonable wages,
sick pay, pay calculation, and more.
See also: Employment
Law & Disputes
Accident
Insurance
A foreign employee working for a Finnish employer in Finland
is to be insured by the employer with a mandatory accident
insurance. The insurance covers both accidents at work and
on the journey to work.
If a foreign employer has sent an employee temporarily to
work in Finland, the employee may be covered by the sending
country’s insurance, in which case the insurance premiums
are paid only there. Usually, unless the country in question
is a EU/EEA or other country with a social security agreement,
a posted worker’s certificate must be acquired from
the sending country. In questions concerning accident compensation
an employee can turn to The Federation of Accident Insurance
Institutions (FAII).
Holidays
An employee has a right to receive pay also for the time
he/she is on annual holiday. Normally holiday leave accumulates
2 days (when employment has lasted less than 1 year) or 2½ days
for each holiday credit month. Normal wages are paid for
the time an employee is on holiday. Earned holiday leave
cannot be replaced with compensation pay unless the holiday
cannot be given due to the ending of the employment. Holiday
compensation must also be paid if the worked hours do not
entitle to holiday leave (when working hours are under 35
h/month or working days under 14 days/month).
Holiday compensation is 9-11,5%, in the construction branch
18.5%, of the accumulated wages during the holiday credit
year, excluding raised pay for overtime or emergency work.
Holiday compensation must be paid when the employment ends
or, if so agreed, in addition to every monthly wage. According
to many collective agreements the employee also has a right
to additional holiday money, which is usually a half of the
holiday wages.
More Information:
Työsuojelupiirit provides
information on statutes, definitions, employees'
rights and more. |
