Government bills8
- HE 199/2025 vpPassed with amendments
Facilitating fixed-term employment contracts
Employers will be able to hire a new employee on a fixed-term employment contract for up to one year without a justified reason. In addition, the lay-off notice period will be shortened from 14 days to seven days, and the obligation to re-employ dismissed employees will be removed for businesses with fewer than 50 employees.
22 May 2026 · 1 vote93 jaa78 ei - HE 39/2026 vpPassed with amendments
Preventing pregnancy and family leave discrimination
The Act on Equality between Women and Men will be amended to prevent discrimination based on pregnancy and family leave in working life. Employers will be required to provide a fixed-term employee with a written explanation for not renewing an employment relationship if the employee has given notification of pregnancy or family responsibilities.
12 Jun 2026 · 3 votesClosest vote · Proposed statement 2
92 jaa82 ei - HE 132/2024 vpPassed
Broadening substitute social worker eligibility
A person who holds a relevant higher education degree in social services or social sciences and has completed basic and intermediate studies in social work may also serve as a substitute social worker. The reform will ease the shortage of staff in the social services sector and in child welfare in particular.
22 Nov 2024 · 1 vote95 jaa67 ei - HE 13/2024 vpPassed with amendments
Graduating earnings-related unemployment security
Earnings-related unemployment security will decrease as unemployment lasts longer. In addition, pay-subsidised work will no longer count towards entitlement to an earnings-related allowance, and the obligation of municipalities to organise work for older unemployed persons will be abolished.
25 Jun 2024 · 8 votes93 jaa77 ei - HE 92/2020 vpPassed
Extending COVID-19 labour law flexibilities
The exceptional employment rules introduced due to the coronavirus crisis will be extended until the end of 2020. Employers will continue to be able to lay off employees on an expedited timetable.
24 Jun 2020 · passed without a vote - HE 37/2018 vpPassed with amendments
Flexibility in public-service employment terms
Rules governing central and local government public-service employment will be harmonised with earlier amendments to the Employment Contracts Act. Long-term unemployed persons can be hired on fixed-term public-service relationships without a separate justification, probationary periods can be extended due to sick leave or family leave, and the re-employment period for dismissed employees will be shortened.
15 Nov 2018 · 5 votes100 jaa71 ei - HE 4/2021 vpPassed with amendments
Criminal record checks in short-term employment
Employers will be able to check the criminal background of persons working with children also in employment relationships lasting under three months. Requesting a criminal record extract will be based on the employer's own discretion and risk assessment, and will not be mandatory.
8 Jun 2021 · 5 votesClosest vote · Mietintö / Jukka Mäkynen
32 jaa23 ei - HE 26/2020 vpPassed
Speeding up lay-offs and probationary dismissals
Employers can lay off employees faster than before, and the right to lay off employees is extended to fixed-term employees as well. In addition, an employment contract can be cancelled during a probationary period on production-related or financial grounds.
31 Mar 2020 · 1 voteOnly vote · Lausumaehdotus, mietintö / Arto Satonen
40 jaa12 ei