The Government proposes a new combined insurance scheme for unemployment security that would make it possible to accrue entitlement to earnings-related daily allowance by combining paid employment and self-employment. The reform could enter into force at the beginning of 2028.
Combined insurance would respond to changes in working life
People are increasingly working in different forms. Alongside paid employment, they may engage in business activities, and during their working career, they may move from being an employee to being self-employed or vice versa.
Currently, members of an unemployment fund for employees can accrue entitlement to earnings-related daily allowance only through work performed as an employee. Members of an unemployment fund for entrepreneurs, in turn, can accrue entitlement based on work performed as a self-employed person.
The combined insurance scheme proposed by the Government would change this. It would make it possible to accrue entitlement to earnings-related daily allowance by combining paid employment and self-employment, either simultaneously or during different periods. This could enable more people to become entitled to earnings-related daily allowance. The amount of the earnings-related daily allowance could also be higher, as both wages and income from self-employment could be taken into account when calculating the allowance.
According to the proposal, the employment condition for a person covered by combined insurance would be met in 12 months if the wages or income from self-employment taken into account amounted to at least EUR 930 per month.
The same unemployment fund could insure both employees and self-employed persons
The reform would also change the way unemployment funds operate. In the future, the same unemployment fund could insure employees, self-employed persons and people covered by combined insurance.
Unemployment funds would decide which types of insurance they offer. Offering combined insurance and extending a fund’s activities to self-employed persons would be voluntary for the funds.
What does the Government proposal mean for A-kassa members now?
At present, the Government proposal does not affect our members in any way. The current legislation and A-kassa’s current membership conditions remain in force.
The Government proposal is currently being considered by Parliament, so the final content of the reform may still change. Parliament will decide whether to adopt the legislation.
If the proposal is adopted according to the planned schedule, unemployment funds could begin accepting people covered by combined insurance as members at the beginning of 2028. The first earnings-related daily allowances based on combined insurance could be paid in 2029.
A-kassa is monitoring the progress of the reform
At A-kassa, we are following the legislative process concerning combined insurance and assessing the impact of the reform from the perspective of our members.
We will inform our members well in advance if the legislation is adopted and if it brings changes to A-kassa’s membership or services.
More information
Government proposal: HE 144/2026