Eurofound's COVID-19 EU PolicyWatch collates information on the responses of government and social partners to the crisis, as well as gathering examples of company practices aimed at mitigating the social and economic impacts.
Factsheet for case FI-2020-13/811 – Updated – measures in Finland
Country | Finland , applies nationwide |
Time period | Temporary, 25 March 2020 – 14 May 2020 |
Type | Legislations or other statutory regulations |
Category |
Ensuring business continuity and support for essential services
– Mobilisation of a larger workforce |
Author | Amanda Kinnunen (Oxford Research) and Eurofound |
Case created | 05 May 2020 (updated 10 July 2020) |
The Emergency Powers Act (Valmiuslaki) (1552/2011) lays down provisions on the power of authorities in emergency conditions.
On 25 March 2020 The Finnish Government, in cooperation with the President of the Republic, declared a state of emergency due to the COVID-19 outbreak. As a result of this, parts of the Emergency Powers Act were activated.
One of the parts that were activated was section 14 of the Act which establishes an obligation to work when requested.
At the time of writing, the obligation to work covers healthcare professionals only. This was done in order to secure functioning of the healthcare system and an adequate level of labour force in the sector.
This measure applies to all health care professionals and students who have come far enough in their studies to be able to work in the sector. All healthcare professionals between the age of 18-67 who live in Finland are within the scope of this measure.
However, individual helth care professionals experience, current job status and other circumstances also weigh in. Health care professionals who are caregivers to a child or other person cannot be obliged to work.
Public employment and business services (TE-services) are resposible for organising this measure and they create a database of eligible health care professionals. They will consult employers regarding their need for extra labour force.
Duration of work obligation is maximum two weeks long and it can be renewed once. Salaries are paid in accordance with collective agreements.
It is also important to point out that obliging health care professionals to work is treated as last resort and it shall be used only when other options such as regular recruitment are not enough to secure functioning of the health care system.
The following updates to this measure have been made after it came into effect.
05 July 2020 |
As of 14 May 2020, this provision ceased to be active. This provision was not used in any parts of the country since the COVID-19 pandemic has spread slower than expected and securing the functioning of the health care system has been possible without the use of this measure. |
This measure has not been used in any parts of the country.
Workers | Businesses | Citizens |
---|---|---|
Particular professions
Workers in care facilities Workers in essential services |
Does not apply to businesses | Does not apply to citizens |
Actors | Funding |
---|---|
National government
Public employment service |
Local funds
National funds |
Social partners' role in designing the measure and form of involvement:
Trade unions | Employers' organisations | |
---|---|---|
Role | Unknown | Unknown |
Form | Not applicable | Not applicable |
Social partners' role in the implementation, monitoring and assessment phase:
No information available.
No information available.
This case is sector-specific
Economic area | Sector (NACE level 2) |
---|---|
Q - Human Health And Social Work Activities | Q86 Human health activities |
Q87 Residential care activities | |
Q88 Social work activities without accommodation |
This case is occupation-specific
Occupation (ISCO level 2) |
---|
Health professionals |
Citation
Eurofound (2020), Mobilisation of healthcare professionals , case FI-2020-13/811 (measures in Finland), COVID-19 EU PolicyWatch, Dublin, http://eurofound.link/covid19eupolicywatch
Disclaimer: This information has not been subject to the full Eurofound evaluation, editorial and publication process. All information is preliminary and subject to change.