Unemployment security weakens but unemployment fund membership benefits remain
Amendments and cuts to unemployment security raise questions on whether fund membership is worthwhile in the future. As the legislative amendments will decrease the earnings-related allowance paid out during unemployment or a lay-off period, bringing it closer to the basic unemployment allowance by Kela, many are pondering whether their fund membership is still worth it. […]
Right to job alternation leave to end on August 1
A new law abolishing the job alternation leave system enters into force on August 1, 2024. Your job alternation leave must therefore begin no later than July 31 if you still want to make use of this benefit before the new legislation takes effect. Persons with permanent employment and a sufficient employment history may […]
Right to job alternation leave ends – you can apply until 31 July 2024
The Parliament of Finland has approved a legislative amendment abolishing the job alternation leave system. The legislation enters into force on August 1. In other words, it is possible to start a job alternation leave until the last day of July. Job alternation leave is an arrangement where a person with permanent employment and […]
Number of laid-off persons dropped considerably in June
In mid-June, the number of recipients of earnings-related allowance dropped at A-kassa Open Unemployment Fund by more than 20% compared to mid-May, and this discrepancy persisted until the end of the month. In June, a total of 22,561 members, or 9.3%, received earnings-related allowance. The share of lay-off period daily allowance recipients stood at over […]
Get familiar with our terminology
Unemployment security comes with many special terms, each with a very specific meaning. For instance, a ‘calendar month’ and a ‘month’ may seem like the same thing but in unemployment security they have a slightly different meaning. Term definitions help you understand how matters related to income security are processed. Below, we have collected a […]
Legislative amendment approved: unemployment funds allowed to help find employment
On June 18, 2024, the Parliament of Finland approved a legislative amendment allowing unemployment funds to expand their role. With the amendment in force, funds will be able to offer employment services to their members. Such services may include employment services, counselling and help in finding employment as well as various coaching services. The […]
Number of recipients of earnings-related allowance down as expected
By mid-June, the number or recipients of earnings-related allowance had gone down by more than 20% from mid-May. Out of the remaining recipients, 30% received lay-off period daily allowance. The share of laid-off persons was 19% in mid-May. By the end of the month, however, the number had risen to 40%. Typically, the number of […]
Paper Workers’ Unemployment Fund will merge to Open Unemployment Fund
Paper Workers’ Unemployment Fund will merge with the Open Unemployment Fund A-kassa at the beginning of next year. The decision to merge was approved at the meeting of the Open Unemployment Fund, 30 May 2024. An extraordinary meeting of the Paper Workers’ Unemployment Fund representatives made a positive decision earlier on 16 May 2024. […]
Things to consider regarding taxation of earnings-related allowance
It may come as a surprise to many recipients of earnings-related allowance that it might be taxed at a higher rate than regular salary. It should be noted that the tax withholding rate for earnings-related allowance and other unemployment fund benefits is set at the minimum of 25% unless a separate tax card is provided […]
Employment situation looking better – share of laid off persons down 50%
Open Unemployment Fund’s mid-May application figures indicate a downturn in the number of applications for earnings-related allowance. The numbers decreased 16% from mid-April. The share of laid-off persons likewise looks to be in decline, with their share standing at 19% of all recipients by mid-May. This is in contrast with the early part of the […]
Earnings-related allowance costs up more than 30%
In April, 13.4% of all Open Unemployment Fund members received earnings-related allowance from the fund, while the number of recipients remained at the March level. Compared to last year, however, the number of recipients has increased significantly, 30.5% from last April. This April, earnings-related allowance costs reached 48.1 million euros, an increase of 32.1% from […]
Sami Aapro starts his tenure as head of Open Unemployment Fund
Sami Aapro, LL.M., officially assumed his position as A-kassa’s Head of Unemployment Fund on May 2, 2024. Aapro brings along his vast experience in the field of unemployment funds, and his professional expertise lays a strong foundation for A-kassa’s future development. Aapro has enjoyed success at similar posts before coming over to A-kassa, with […]
Number of laid-off persons remained high
In March, 13% of all Open Unemployment Fund members received earnings-related allowance from the fund. Compared to March of last year, the number of recipients increased by 23.1%. Out of all daily earnings-related allowance recipients, the share of lay-off period daily allowance recipients remained high in March. The bump in the waiting period is reflected […]
Child increment will be removed in April
The Government’s legislative change to remove the child increment completely will take effect on 1 April 2024. This means that the unemployment benefits paid after the beginning of April will not include any child increments. The removal of the child increment will reduce the amount of the daily unemployment allowance by EUR 125–240 per month. […]
Protected part of earnings will be removed in April
The protected part of unemployment security refers to the income an unemployed person is allowed to earn without affecting their earnings-related allowances. A legislative amendment by the Government, entering into force on April 1, will fully remove the protected part of earnings. The protected part of earnings was implemented in the beginning of 2014. […]
Impact of carer status on eligibility for an earnings-related daily allowance
Carers can claim unemployment benefits if they are able to demonstrate that they are fit for work and available for work on the open market, which essentially means that you must be prepared to accept full-time employment. If you are a carer and you become unemployed or are laid off, it is important that […]
New head of the A-kassa starts in early May
When the current head of the Open Unemployment Fund, Irene Niskanen, retires, candidate of law Sami Aapro has been appointed as her successor. He will take over the position at the beginning of May from the position of legal affairs manager of the Unemployment Fund for Education and Science. Aapro has extensive experience working in […]
Survey on impact of cuts to unemployment security
In February, the Open Unemployment Fund asked its members about how the already implemented and upcoming cuts to unemployment security have impacted, or will impact, their finances, finding employment, and everyday life. 812 members responded to the survey. According to 60% of the respondents, the amendments in unemployment security have already affected or will affect […]
The proportion of laid-off members remained high
32,222 members received an earnings-related daily allowance from the Open Unemployment Fund in February. This was 35.3 per cent higher than in February last year. The proportion of those receiving daily allowance due to a lay-off remained relatively high being 42.4 per cent of all recipients. In February, a total of 32,222 members received […]
Am I allowed to work as an entrepreneur and still be entitled to earnings-related allowance?
In Finland, entrepreneurs are generally perceived positively and respected. Entrepreneurship is indeed a solid employment option, especially as there are various forms of entrepreneurship available, such as full-time, part-time or light entrepreneurship. Is it possible for an unemployed person to engage in business activities without losing their earnings-related allowance? If you work as an […]
