Government bills15
- HE 21/2026 vpPassed with amendments
Stricter penalties for labour exploitation
Penalties for the exploitation of workers will be toughened by introducing new provisions in the Criminal Code on extortion in working life and aggravated extortion in working life. Punishing abuse will no longer require demonstrating grounds for discrimination.
12 Jun 2026 · 1 voteOnly vote · Proposed statement
114 jaa59 ei - HE 198/2025 vpPassed with amendments
Enhancing information exchange between authorities
Authorities will be able to exchange information more extensively than at present and on their own initiative to combat organised crime, work-related exploitation and the grey economy. The reform will speed up action against abuses and improve prison safety.
12 Jun 2026 · passed without a vote - HE 174/2025 vpPassed with amendments
Facilitating international medical assistance
Foreign health care professionals will be able to come to Finland to assist during severe crises and disruptions without a Finnish licence to practise or registration. The change will make it possible to receive international medical assistance quickly, for example during states of emergency or major accidents.
29 Apr 2026 · 1 voteOnly vote · Proposed statement
88 jaa74 ei - HE 80/2026 vpIn progress
Better protection for exploited foreign workers
A foreign worker would be allowed to seek new employment for three months longer before their residence permit is revoked if their working conditions have involved exploitation. At the same time, processing times for residence permit applications and employers' notification obligations would be clarified.
11 Sep 2026 · no votes yet - HE 179/2024 vpPassed with amendments
Protected periods for work-based residence permits
People living in Finland on a work-based residence permit will have a protected period of three or six months to find a new job if they become unemployed, before the permit can be cancelled. In addition, employers will be obliged to notify the authorities of the termination of employment, and workers will also be permitted to work in labour shortage sectors.
11 Apr 2025 · 3 votes95 jaa74 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 114/2022 vpPassed with amendments
Faster processing of work-based residence permits
Applying for residence permits based on employment and entrepreneurship will become faster and smoother, with the target of an average processing time of one month. Reliable employers will be able to apply for certification, which will lighten and speed up permit processes for their employees.
15 Feb 2023 · 1 vote113 jaa37 ei - HE 6/2024 vpPassed
Easing EU Blue Card conditions
Conditions for the EU residence permit for highly educated individuals and specialists, known as the EU Blue Card, will be eased. The salary threshold required to obtain the permit will be lowered, and the movement of workers between EU Member States will be streamlined.
17 Apr 2024 · 3 votesClosest vote · Lakiehdotus 1, 9 §, mietintö /Hanna Räsänen
99 jaa82 ei - HE 253/2020 vpPassed with amendments
Tackling the exploitation of foreign labour
A foreign worker exploited in their employment would be able to change employers freely or receive an extended permit for one year to seek new work. At the same time, employers guilty of abuses could be barred from recruiting foreign workers for a fixed period.
11 Jun 2021 · 7 votes43 jaa10 ei - HE 42/2021 vpPassed with amendments
Protecting foreign berry pickers
The rights of collectors of natural products arriving in Finland from abroad and the obligations of companies inviting them into the country would be defined in law. Recruitment fees charged to collectors would be prohibited, and their earnings would have to be paid in full before leaving the country.
2 Jun 2021 · passed without a vote - HE 252/2020 vpPassed with amendments
Easier employer changes for seasonal workers
Foreign seasonal workers will be able to change employers while in Finland without applying for an entirely new permit. At the same time, the notification burden on employers will be eased and the permit procedure for seasonal workers returning to their previous work will be streamlined.
28 Mar 2021 · passed without a vote - HE 276/2022 vpLapsed
Introducing administrative review for work permits
Applicants will be able to request an administrative review free of charge directly from the Finnish Immigration Service (Migri) for decisions concerning certain work-based residence permits and the EU Blue Card. The amendment will enable automated processing of applications and speed up the issuance of permit decisions.
5 Apr 2023 · no votes - HE 65/2020 vpPassed
Expanding asylum seekers' right to work
Asylum seekers already in Finland will be granted the right to work in agriculture, forestry, horticulture and fisheries immediately without a waiting period. Work can continue despite a refusal-of-entry decision for as long as the person is covered by reception services.
11 Jun 2020 · 5 votes43 jaa11 ei - HE 36/2020 vpPassed with amendments
Facilitating foreign employment in critical sectors
All third-country nationals legally residing in Finland will be granted the right to work in sectors critical to security of supply. Working in these roles will be permitted regardless of the type of existing permit until the end of 2020.
14 Apr 2020 · 3 votesClosest vote · Lausumaehdotus, mietintö / Riikka Purra
30 jaa19 ei - HE 180/2018 vpPassed
Denying state grants for illegal labour
State grants will, as a rule, not be awarded to an applicant who has been convicted of using illegal foreign labour. In addition, an aid amount paid in excess or in error will not need to be returned to the state if the sum is less than 100 euros.
23 Nov 2018 · passed without a vote