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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
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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. Return to top |
