Eurofound's EU PolicyWatch collates information on the responses of government and social partners to the COVID-19 crisis, the war in Ukraine, rising inflation, as well as gathering examples of company practices aimed at mitigating the social and economic impacts.
Overview of measures by country
Eurofound has identified 72 measures in Finland in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, the war in Ukraine, the digital transformation, the green transition, and companies undergoing restructuring. Most cases fall into the category Supporting businesses to stay afloat with 15 cases (21%). The data collection to date started in March 2020, and data are updated at regular intervals.
This overview was prepared by Amanda Kinnunen (Oxford Research) and Eurofound.
Legislations or other statutory regulations |
|
---|---|
03 April 2020 Updated |
Business Finland's new direct business subsidies for SMEs and midcap companies
Access to finance |
10 April 2020 Updated |
ELY centres' business development aid to micro companies
Direct subsidies (full or partial) |
13 April 2020 |
Temporary deductions to employers' pension contribution in the private sector
Direct subsidies (full or partial) |
02 October 2020 Updated |
Business cost support
Direct subsidies (full or partial) |
05 October 2020 |
Tesi’s stability programme for medium-sized companies
Access to finance |
05 October 2020 |
Tesi's Venture Bridge investment program for innovative companies seeking for growth
Access to finance |
04 January 2021 Updated |
Temporary changes to the presumption of insolvency
Rescue procedures in case of insolvency or adaptation of insolvency regulation |
07 January 2021 |
Direct subsidy for rural enterprises negatively affected by the COVID-19 pandemic
Direct subsidies (full or partial) |
07 January 2021 |
Direct subsidy for fisheries negatively affected by the COVID-19 crisis
Direct subsidies (full or partial) |
01 July 2021 |
Closure compensation
Direct subsidies (full or partial) |
Other initiatives or policies |
05 January 2021 |
Direct subsidy for enterprises in primary production
Direct subsidies (full or partial) |
08 April 2021 |
Grant for artists, professionals and solo-self employed in the culture and creative arts sector
Direct subsidies (full or partial) |
30 June 2021 |
Grants for enterprises in the culture sector
Direct subsidies (full or partial) |
30 June 2021 |
Event guarantee
Direct subsidies (full or partial) |
23 June 2022 |
Enterprise Finland
Other |
Legislations or other statutory regulations |
|
---|---|
23 June 2022 Updated |
Temporary layoff
Income support for people in employment (e.g., short-time work) |
23 June 2022 Updated |
Pay Security Act (866/1998)
Income support for people in employment (e.g., short-time work) |
Legislations or other statutory regulations |
|
---|---|
23 June 2022 Updated |
'Change Security' model
Transfer or redeployment of workers |
23 June 2022 Updated |
Joint purchase training
Matching/networking |
Company practices |
27 October 2020 |
Passenger airline Finnair sells pre-cooked meals in Finnish supermarkets
Change of production/innovation |
29 October 2020 |
HOK-Elanto transferred 800 employees from restaurants to grocery stores in order to meet the needs of the rapidly changing market
Transfer or redeployment of workers |
Other initiatives or policies |
21 October 2020 |
Enter 2020 information campaign shares information on best practices at workplaces during the COVID-19 pandemic
Change of production/innovation |
13 December 2021 |
Business Finland and Recovery and Resilience Facility funding
Change of production/innovation |
23 June 2022 Updated |
Business Finland
Change of production/innovation |
Company practices |
|
---|---|
23 October 2020 |
COVID-19 hotline for franchisees and employees of fast food chain Kotipizza
Well-being of workers |
23 October 2020 |
Telecommunications company Elisa's COVID-19 General Exit guidelines
Occupational health and safety |
30 November 2020 |
Kotkamills' workers autonomy increased as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic
Changes of management approach |
Other initiatives or policies |
20 October 2020 |
Regional crisis support for employees affected by the COVID-19 crisis
Well-being of workers |
Legislations or other statutory regulations |
|
---|---|
03 April 2020 Updated |
Temporary recognition of entrepreneurs as recipients of labour market subsidy
Extensions of income support to workers not covered by any kind of protection scheme |
13 April 2020 |
Financial aid for solo self-employed negatively affected by COVID-19
Extensions of income support to workers not covered by any kind of protection scheme |
13 April 2020 Updated |
State-funded unemployment security during the waiting period
Income support for unemployed |
13 April 2020 Updated |
Cancellation of the unemployment allowance deductible period in the case of temporary layoff or dismissal
Income support for unemployed |
13 April 2020 Updated |
Temporarily shortened working requirement for unemployment benefit eligibility
Income support for unemployed |
12 March 2021 Updated |
Unemployed may temporarily earn more without losing benefits
Income support for unemployed |
Legislations or other statutory regulations |
|
---|---|
05 October 2020 |
Temporary compensation for basic social assistance clients due to an epidemic outbreak
Protection of vulnerable groups (beyond employment support) |
08 April 2021 |
Compensation for travel costs associated with COVID-19 vaccinations
Access to healthcare |
30 June 2021 |
Loan deduction for students who do not graduate on time due to COVID-19
Preventing over-indebtedness |
Other initiatives or policies |
19 May 2022 |
Higher education opportunities for Ukrainians fleeing the war
Access to childcare and education |
01 March 2023 |
Information package on education in Ukrainian
Access to childcare and education |
Legislations or other statutory regulations |
|
---|---|
03 April 2020 Updated |
Shortened notice period for temporary layoffs
Flexibilisation and security |
03 April 2020 Updated |
Temporarily shortened duration of employer-employee negotiations on temporary layoffs
Flexibilisation and security |
03 April 2020 Updated |
Temporary layoffs of employees on a fixed-term contracts
Flexibilisation and security |
03 April 2020 Updated |
Termination of employment during trial period for financial and production-related reasons
Flexibilisation and security |
03 April 2020 Updated |
Extension of the employee re-employment obligation to nine months
Flexibilisation and security |
05 May 2020 Updated |
Temporary extension of notice period in case of employee resignation in critical functions of society
Flexibilisation and security |
30 September 2020 |
Support to restaurants for re-employment
Active labour market policies (enhancing employability, training, subsidised job creation, etc.) |
05 October 2020 |
Extension to the maximum duration of start-up funding
Active labour market policies (enhancing employability, training, subsidised job creation, etc.) |
Other initiatives or policies |
13 December 2021 |
Walking beside – Support for youth employment
Active labour market policies (enhancing employability, training, subsidised job creation, etc.) |
23 June 2022 Updated |
Talent Boost
Active labour market policies (enhancing employability, training, subsidised job creation, etc.) |
30 January 2023
Governments across the EU continue to implement policies to support citizens and businesses in the face of rising food and energy prices caused by the COVID-19 crisis and intensified by the war in Ukraine. This article summarises the policy responses as reported in Eurofound's EU PolicyWatch database from January to September 2022.
Article12 September 2022
Although the worldwide pandemic situation had already disrupted supply chains and triggered increases in energy and food prices in 2021, the situation deteriorated in 2022 with the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Article12 September 2022
This article summarises the first policy responses that governments across the EU have started to implement to support companies affected by the rising prices, and those with commercial ties to Ukraine, Russia or Belarus.
Article5 July 2022
This article summarises the first policy responses of EU Member States, including those of the social partners and other civil society actors, enabling refugees to exercise their rights under the Temporary Protection Directive.
ArticleDisclaimer: This information has not been subject to the full Eurofound evaluation, editorial and publication process.