Lay-off or temporary layoffs in Finland? What to do next?
Due to the current COVID-19 situations, there will be many layoffs or temporary layoffs in Finland. In that case, this is a summary of information that will help to understand what to do next. This is based on the information until April 06, so check for the latest rules.
1. Register with your local TE Office on your first day of unemployment or temporary layoff at the latest. It’s also possible to do it earlier. For non-EU members, you may need to submit a paper application. TE office will register and will approve a statement, which may take 3–5 days.
2. If you are a member of the unemployment fund, then you can apply for earnings-related unemployment allowance. Previously, the required period of employment was 26 calendar weeks and 5 days waiting period for the application. But the govt. already proposed to change the requirements to 13 weeks with no waiting day.
3. If you are not a member of any unemployment fund, then apply to KELA for unemployment benefits after completing a waiting period of five working days. The rule may change to no waiting day.
4. If no unemployment benefits, then apply for KELA social benefits.
5. For entrepreneurs, the Government proposes that, as a temporary measure, entrepreneurs would also be entitled to labour market support on the grounds of sudden and unforeseen decline in the demand due to the coronavirus epidemic.
Source:
Government proposes temporary amendments to the Unemployment Security Act, Act on Financing Unemployment Benefits and Act on Unemployment Funds:
Entrepreneurs entitled to unemployment security due to coronavirus epidemic:
TE Office:
https://www.te-palvelut.fi/te/fi/
Unemployment fund:
KELA:
Social benefits:
https://www.kela.fi/web/en/other-social-security-benefits-and-the-unemployment-benefit
