Background information

In accordance with the national work-life innovation project of TYÖ2030 programme led by the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health TTL [Työterveyslaitos], Industrial Union (Teollisuusliitto) has developed a mobile phone app that provides free information on the rules of working life in the agricultural and forestry sectors and living conditions in Finland.

The availability of seasonal labour is important for employers in the agriculture and forestry sectors in Finland, which is why efforts are being made to provide information especially to employers who employ seasonal workers, and to seasonal workers who arrive in Finland to work for a short period of time.

The application was developed by Industrial Union [Teollisuusliitto], which is the largest trade union in the agriculture sector. Other partners involved are the Federation of Agricultural Employers MTA (Maaseudun työnantajaliitto), Private Forestry Employers' Association (Yksityismetsätalouden työnantajat ry), the state-owned forestry enterprise Metsähallitus and the Migration Institute of Finland (Siirtolaisuusinstituutti).

Content of measure

The app provides detailed information form sectoral collective agreements regarding working hours, holidays or sickness-related matters. The information is provided in Finnish, Swedish, English, Ukrainian, and Russian. The application is to provide information to both employees and employers in the agriculture and forestry sectors, with a particular focus on seasonal workers that are often foreign and may have received false information regarding remuneration and working conditions in their country of origin.

The pilot phase of the Hermes project started in February 2022 and covers rural industries such as berry and animal farms, forestry and horticulture. In the coming years, the application is to be extended to other sectors and languages.

Use of the application is free of charge.

Use of measure

By February 2023, the application had been downloaded to 2,000 mobile devices and had 1,100 active users in February. Out of the users, 80% were employees and 20% employers.

Target groups

Workers	Businesses	Citizens
Seasonal workers Migrants or refugees in employment	Sector specific set of companies	Does not apply to citizens

Actors and funding

Actors	Funding
Social partners jointly Company / Companies Other social actors (e.g. NGOs)	Trade union

Social partners

Social partners' role in designing the measure and form of involvement:

	Trade unions	Employers' organisations
Role	Agreed (outcome) incl. social partner initiative	Agreed (outcome) incl. social partner initiative
Form	Any other form of consultation, institutionalised (as stable working groups or committees) or informal	Any other form of consultation, institutionalised (as stable working groups or committees) or informal

Social partners' role in the implementation, monitoring and assessment phase:

• Only trade unions
• Main level of involvement: Sectoral or branch level

Involvement

The application was developed by Industrial Union [Teollisuusliitto], which is the largest trade union representing workers in the agriculture sector. Other project partners involved are the Federation of Agricultural Employers MTA (Maaseudun työnantajaliitto), Private Forestry Employers' Association (Yksityismetsätalouden työnantajat ry), the state-owned forestry enterprise Metsähallitus and the Migration Institute of Finland (Siirtolaisuusinstituutti).

Views and reactions

The measure is a social partner initiative.

Sectors and occupations

This case is not occupation-specific.

Sources

• 30 November 2022: The Hermes app gives seasonal workers correct information (Hermes-sovellus tarjoaa kausityöntekijöille oikeaa tietoa) (www.teollisuusliitto.fi)
• 28 February 2023: Horticulture sector [Puutarha-ala] (www.teollisuusliitto.fi)
• 28 February 2023: Hermes pilot successful [Hermes-sovelluksen pilotti onnistui – Aktiivisia käyttäjiä jo yli tuhat] (www.epressi.com)
• 21 May 2024: Teollisuusliiton Hermes app revamped: Up-to-date information about living and working in Finland in nine languages for both employees and employers (www.teollisuusliitto.fi)