Joint recommendations for workplaces in case of drone threats

Together with the social partners, the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment, the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health and the Ministry of the Interior have drawn up recommendations for workplaces in case of drone threats. Their premise is that official instructions are followed. The recommendations are based on the current threat assessment and they will be updated as necessary. They also include a recommendation on the payment of wages.

“Fortunately, emergencies are quite rare. However, when they do occur, workplaces must have crystal clear procedures on how to act. To me, it is particularly important that employees are paid their wages during these situations. Nobody should endanger their personal safety due to uncertainty about whether they will get paid. I would like to thank all those who participated in this work at a tight schedule. It is important to have comprehensive instructions on how workplaces should operate during emergencies and a clear recommendation on payment of wages,” says Minister of Employment Matias Marttinen.

Instructions for emergencies must be followed – Tasks directly affecting life and health are secured

The recommendations are based on a situation where armed drones may occasionally stray into Finland and, as a result, the rescue authorities may issue emergency warnings. During a drone threat, the authorities advise people to go indoors because moving outdoors is not safe.

The instructions of the emergency warnings must be followed. However, there are certain functions in society that cannot be shut down or reduced during an emergency warning without directly endangering people’s lives or health. The instructions contain recommendations for securing these functions while the emergency warning is in force.

Recommendation to employers to pay wages

Despite the fact that the social partners interpret the current labour legislation and the obligation to pay wages differently, they recommend that, in order to strengthen comprehensive security, employers pay wages to employees and public officials in situations referred to in the recommendations when the person is prevented from performing their work due to an emergency warning issued by the authorities due to a drone threat.

Practices will be agreed on at workplaces

Each workplace should find the means to minimise the risks to the health and safety of employees and to reduce the harm to employers. The recommendations contain examples on how work can be reconciled with the advisory to take shelter.

Instructions and practices related to drones must be discussed at workplaces in advance. The recommendations contain examples of matters that employers and employees should address.

During drone threats, occupational accidents are assessed according to the Occupational Accidents, Injuries and Diseases Act, as usual.

Recommendations may be updated as necessary

The social partners and the Government continue to monitor the situation related to drone threats and are prepared for changes in the situational picture. The recommendations may be updated as necessary.

In case the situation picture changes or drone threats become more common, thereby resulting in substantial payroll costs for employers, the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment will carry out a study on how these costs could be equalised. The starting point of the study is that the equalisation model does not generate any costs to general government or employees.

Recommendations are based on Minister’s assignment

On 26 May 2026, Minister Marttinen requested that the authorities, together with the social partners, draw up instructions for workplaces on how to act in situations where an emergency warning has been issued due to a drone, i.e. an unmanned aircraft. The preparatory work was led by Timo Jaatinen, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment. The participants included representatives from the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment, the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, the Ministry of the Interior, the Confederation of Unions for Professional and Managerial Staff in Finland Akava, the Confederation of Finnish Industries EK, the Commission for Church Employers, the Local Government and County Employers KT, the Central Organisation of Finnish Trade Unions SAK, the Federation of Finnish Enterprises, the Finnish Confederation of Professionals STTK and the Office for the Government as Employer.

Inquiries: 
Ville Laakso, Special Adviser to the Minister of Employment, tel. +358 50 433 0163 (questions to the Minister of Employment) 
Nico Steiner, Senior Ministerial Adviser, Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment, tel. +358 295 049 001
Raimo Antila, Director General, Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, tel. +358 295 163 094
Ville Kopra, Director – Labour Markets, Akava, tel. +358 40 826 1358 
Ilkka Oksala, Director, Confederation of Finnish Industries EK, tel. +358 50 301 8590
Anna Kaarina Piepponen, Labour Market Director, Commission for Church Employers, tel. +358 40 688 1472
Mirja-Maija Tossavainen, Chief Lawyer in Labour Law, KT, tel. +358 50 527 6019
Jaana Ylitalo, Head of Labour Market Affairs, SAK, tel. +358 50 588 1170
Atte Rytkönen-Sandberg, Director, Federation of Finnish Enterprises, tel. +358 40 359 1986
Minna Ahtiainen, Director, STTK, tel. +358 50 387 7030
Sari Ojanen, Director of Collective Agreements, Office for the Government as Employer, tel. +358 295 530 109

The English version of the recommendations will be published as soon as possible.