Currently the third largest unemployment fund in Finland, Open Unemployment Fund A-kassa will have more than 250,000 members at the turn of the year. This significant increase is due to the approximately 12,500 members of the Paper Workers’ Unemployment Fund merging into A-kassa in January 2025.
A-kassa reinforces its status as third largest unemployment fund in Finland
A-kassa is a multi-trade unemployment fund open to all wage-earners, providing financial security for periods of unemployment and lay-offs. The fund also pays out other benefits, including mobility allowance and restructuring protection allowance. Cooperation with 11 trade unions is an essential part of the fund’s operation, and at the turn of the year the Paperworkers’ Union will join the fold.
Unemployment fund merger brings stability and development opportunities
Mergers have significantly reduced the number of unemployment funds in Finland – while just 14 funds remain today, there were almost twice as many only ten years ago. The total number of unemployment fund members has remained fairly even. At the end of 2023, the funds had a total of 1,943,881 members. Larger funds, such as A-kassa, benefit from having a more extensive resource pool. This allows better investments in information systems, personnel training and customer service development, for instance.
A-kassa’s members benefit from automated, user-friendly processes and the modern eService which makes it quick, safe and efficient to apply for benefits. Greater resources also allow the fund to offer new employment services to members, including career coaching and training.
The merger between the Paper Workers’ Unemployment Fund and A-kassa does not require any action from members nor does it impact their unemployment security or benefit payouts. Memberships are transferred to A-kassa automatically without interruption starting from the beginning of 2025. The Paperworkers’ Union’s membership fee will continue to include unemployment fund’s membership fee.
