Government bills12
- 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 158/2025 vpPassed
Making it easier to dismiss employees
Dismissing an employee on personal grounds will become easier, as an objective reason will suffice for termination instead of the previous proper and weighty reason. At the same time, the employer's obligation to offer alternative work before dismissal will be restricted.
19 Dec 2025 · 15 votes108 jaa54 ei - HE 169/2024 vpPassed
Bringing berry pickers under seasonal employment
Foreign wild berry pickers will be able to enter Finland on a seasonal work permit and work in an employment relationship. The change will improve pickers' working conditions and prevent human trafficking and labour exploitation.
17 Dec 2024 · passed without a vote - HE 215/2022 vpPassed with amendments
Clarifying employment versus self-employment
A rule on overall assessment will be added to the Employment Contracts Act for situations where it is unclear whether an individual is working under an employment relationship or as an entrepreneur. The amendment will make it easier to identify the correct form of work and prevent employment relationships from being disguised as commission assignments.
15 Feb 2023 · passed without a vote - HE 15/2024 vpPassed with amendments
Improving seafarers' working conditions and protection
The rules of the Maritime Labour Convention will be updated to improve the position, well-being and occupational safety of seafarers. At the same time, obligations will be laid down concerning private recruitment and placement services in the maritime sector and the reporting of fatalities to the authorities.
12 Jun 2024 · passed without a vote - HE 35/2022 vpLapsed
Clarifying the collection of employee data
An employer will be able to collect an employee's personal data during an employment relationship without separate consent if the data relates to exercising statutory rights or fulfilling statutory obligations. In other situations, such as recruitment, obtaining data from other sources will still require the employee's consent.
5 Apr 2023 · no votes - HE 213/2022 vpPassed
Safeguarding employee rights in cross-border restructurings
Employees' rights, terms of employment, and representation rights would be safeguarded in situations where a company merges, divides, or transfers its registered office to another EEA country. Employers would be required to inform and consult personnel about arrangements well in advance of decision-making.
20 Dec 2022 · passed without a vote - HE 60/2022 vpPassed with amendments
Improving conditions for variable-hours workers
The employment terms of employees working variable hours and on short-term contracts will become more predictable and clearer than at present. Employers will have to provide a more comprehensive written statement on the terms of employment and regularly review actual hours worked under zero-hour and other variable contracts.
1 Jul 2022 · passed without a vote - HE 50/2022 vpPassed with amendments
Reforming civil servants' working conditions
Civil servants of the state and the Bank of Finland will be guaranteed more comprehensive written information on their terms of employment and the right to free mandatory training that counts as working time. In addition, state civil servants will be able to report short sickness absences more flexibly without a doctor's certificate.
1 Jul 2022 · passed without a vote - HE 188/2018 vpPassed
Reforming cross-border social security
Workers arriving in Finland will gain access to social security and health insurance faster than before, without the requirement of an employment relationship of at least four months. At the same time, the right to Finnish social security during a temporary stay abroad will be shortened from one year to six months.
20 Dec 2018 · 6 votes119 jaa62 ei - HE 42/2020 vpPassed
Employment protection for victims of piracy
The employment contract and payment of wages of a seafarer held captive as a result of piracy or armed robbery will continue throughout captivity. In addition, the rules governing rest periods and complaint procedures for ship personnel are clarified.
3 Jun 2020 · passed without a vote - HE 227/2018 vpPassed
Easing dismissal criteria and waiting periods
When assessing grounds for dismissing an employee, the number of employees of the employer will be taken into account, facilitating dismissals particularly in small businesses. At the same time, the unemployment benefit waiting period following the termination of an employment relationship for reasons attributable to the employee will be shortened from 90 days to 60 days.
20 Dec 2018 · 3 votes102 jaa72 ei