Search

12.12.2023 | Estonia and the World Health Organization (WHO) will hold a conference on the development of health systems on 12-13 December 2023, where Finland will be represented by Minister of Social Affairs and Health Kaisa Juuso. In her speech, the Minister will address the economy of wellbeing, particularly the mutually supportive nature of both wellbeing policy measures and structures and the economy.

31.10.2025 | Healthcare and social welfare 2040 vision Views and proposals of Ministry of Social Affairs and Health officials regarding needs for changes to the healthcare and social welfare service system Permanent Secretary Veli-Mikko Niemi In “Healthcare an...

16.9.2024 | A good working life is the cornerstone of society. Ensuring health and safety at work is an important prerequisite for a good working life. The policy for the work environment and wellbeing at work until 2030 entitled ‘Safe and healthy working conditions and work ability for everyone’ defines the objectives and priorities concerning health and safety at work in Finland.

15.5.2023 | The priorities and objectives of the WORK2030 programme responded well to the needs to develop working life, according to an external assessment. The programme supported earlier development work and succeeded in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic in particular. The programme played an active role in implementing the ongoing reform of continuous learning at workplaces.

2.2.2021 | The Global Risks Report  of the World Economic Forum includes extreme weather and climate action failure, infectious diseases and digital inequality in the list of world’s greatest threats in 2021. These issues also directly impact occupational safety and health (OSH). 

18.5.2022 | A research project entitled Working careers and occupational segregation behind the gender pay gap, which is funded by the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, studies the career development of women and men and changes in occupational structures in light of long-term statistical data. In particular, it examines how career changes and changes in duties are connected to the gender pay gap.

5.12.2025 | 1 Classified as ECDC NORMAL Appendix 10 - Country follow-up to ECDC PHEPA recommendations Following the PHEPA mission conducted in your country, the final ECDC assessment report includes a series of recommendations aiming at supporting your countr...

31.3.2023 | The comprehensive WORK2030 programme, carried out collaboratively by ministries, social partner organisations, workplaces and other experts in the field, is coming to an end. The programme identified five solutions that will help make Finnish working life the best in the world.

12.10.2020 | Work may not compromise the health and safety of employees. There is no ambiguity in this respect. However, it is a challenging objective to reach in a rapidly changing world of work.

21.12.2023 | Finland’s communicable diseases legislation is being reformed in 2023–2025. During the reform, a number of thematic workshops will be organised to give the key stakeholders an opportunity to express their views. The first workshop was held on 18 December under the theme business activities and employment.

15.11.2022 | Supporting mental health at work requires that both workplaces and occupational healthcare update their cooperation practices and are willing to learn together. As a result of the Mental Health at Work Programme, a model has now been published where mental wellbeing is promoted through cooperation between workplaces and occupational healthcare by strengthening the resources of work communities.

20.12.2022 | The Government decided on 20 December that private healthcare providers will receive supplies of the current coronavirus booster vaccine. The decision aims to ensure that not only people at risk serious COVID-19 infection can get vaccinated.

12.5.2023 | The measures launched during the working capacity programme to create a more inclusive labour market and to employ people with impaired working capacity should be continued and developed further. The employees’ ability to work is an essential factor in the pursuit of a higher employment rate. These are some conclusions of the evaluation report on the recently completed working capacity programme.

17.11.2022 | The Government proposes amendments to the Act on Occupational Safety and Health Enforcement and Cooperation on Occupational Safety and Health at Workplaces (Act on Occupational Safety and Health). The proposal would extend the occupational safety and health (OHS) authorities’ powers concerning the enforcement of provisions on wage dumping. The OSH authorities would also have new duties concerning the notification of other authorities of problems with indoor air quality.

13.3.2020 | On 13 March, the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health issued practical instructions to oral healthcare providers on how to prepare for the coronavirus outbreak in their clinic activities.

11.11.2019 | Several countries and international organisations are committed to accelerating the improvement of working conditions through closer cooperation.

8.11.2021 | Working life in Finland is strongly divided by gender. This means that many sectors and jobs have a clear majority of either female or male employees. Segregation maintains narrow gender stereotypes, prevents the full utilisation of skills, has a detrimental effect on the functioning of the labour market and is also reflected in the pay gap and, consequently, in pensions.

22.12.2020 | On 22 December, the Finnish Government issued a decree on vaccinations, which is needed to deploy the COVID-19 vaccination programme in Finland. The programme will use vaccines against SARS-CoV-2 that have been granted marketing authorisation in the European Union. It will be deployed once vaccines arrive in Finland. The decree will enter into force on 23 December 2020. Vaccination for COVID-19 is voluntary.

10.11.2022 | On Thursday 10 November, the Government appointed Raimo Antila as Director General of the Department for Work and Gender Equality at the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health. His new term will begin on 1 December 2022. The appointment is for a fixed period until 30 November 2027.

27.1.2021 | In its meeting on 27 January, the Government decided on health insurance coverage for COVID-19 vaccines provided by private occupational healthcare. The Government also discussed the safe entry of seasonal workers and received a briefing on the pandemic-related legislation and government proposals currently in preparation.

7.3.2024 | On Thursday 7 March 2024, the Government appointed Taneli Puumalainen as Director General of the Department for Safety, Security and Health at the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health. The appointment is for a fixed term until 30 April 2027.

6.9.2024 | 15 April 2024 Ministry of Social Affairs and Health policy on international and EU cooperation for 2024–2027 The policies of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health on international and EU coopera- tion for 2024–2027 guide the Ministry and its a...

Kahdettatoista kertaa järjestettävät Tasa-arvopäivät kokoavat sukupuolten tasa-arvon parissa työskentelevät 7.–8.10. Espoon modernin taiteen museo EMMAan Tapiolaan. Tämän vuoden tapahtuman teema on työ, luokka ja raha. Tilaisuus tarjoaa ohjelmaa suomeksi ja englanniksi.

5.3.2020 | The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health is responsible for ensuring that Finland is prepared for both unexpected and gradually emerging situations that affect, or may affect, healthcare and social welfare services one way or another.

9.4.2026 | 1 ADI-ROM(2025)26 Restricted Strasbourg, 9 March 2026 COMMITTEE OF EXPERTS ON ROMA AND TRAVELLER1 ISSUES (ADI-ROM) 13th meeting Strasbourg, 1-2 April 2026 Explanatory Memorandum Recommendation to the member States on desegregation and inclusion po...

17.11.2022 | The Government proposes that a new act be enacted on patient ombudspersons and social services ombudspersons. The act would lay down provisions on the organisation of the activities of patient ombudspersons and social services ombudspersons and their independence, qualifications and duties. The act would also include provisions on the processing of personal data. 

4.9.2017 | Finland participated in the World Congress on Safety and Health at Work in Singapore and presented its activities in preventing work-related cancer.

15.2.2023 | As international recruitment becomes increasingly common in the healthcare and social welfare sector, it is important to ensure that employers have sufficient competence to manage recruitment responsibly. Responsibility recommendations prepared to support recruitment promote consideration of ethical aspects and combat risks of labour exploitation.

23.2.2023 | On Thursday 23 February, the Government appointed Liisa Perttula as the new Director of Human Resources and Administration at the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health. Perttula will take up her duties on 1 March 2023.

19.1.2017 | In future, occupational health care will be more closely connected to the systems of health and social services and rehabilitation. More occupational health care measures than today will be available to maintain employees’ ability to work and to support longer working careers. The aim is to help those, who have reduced capacity for work to continue working more often than today. These outlines ...

31.5.2018 | A working group, appointed by the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, proposes a road map for ending the use of tobacco and other nicotine products in Finland by 2030. It would mean that less than 5% of the adult population use tobacco and nicotine products daily. Reaching this goal, recorded in the Tobacco Act, requires that the future governments monitor and assess tobacco policy and develop new measures.

24.6.2021 | People in designing work and the working environment A handbook for the proactive planning of work and design of working environments 2People in designing work and the working environment Version 1.3 June | 2021 People in designing work and the wo...

3.12.2020 | The coronavirus situation is rapidly worsening in Finland. Over the past two weeks, the number and incidence of cases has risen sharply in almost all regions. This development calls for an immediate and proactive response.

7.11.2019 | On Thursday, 7 November, the Government appointed Markus Henriksson as Director-General of Valvira, the National Supervisory Authority for Welfare and Health. Henriksson will continue in his current position as he has served as Director-General of the National Supervisory Authority for Welfare and Health since 2017.

29.8.2024 | Privacy policy – Gender Equality Barometer The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health has commissioned Statistics Finland to carry out a survey on gender equality in Finland. The survey will provide information about perceived equality in different...

25.7.2017 | In May 2017, a two-day event focusing on gender equality was organised for Roma women and men as part of the project Building a Roma Platform financed by the Finnish Ministry of Social Affairs and Health and the EU.

2.12.2021 | The Government recommends that workplaces in areas in the community transmission phase switch to remote work when possible. Recommendation on remote work will be in effect until further notice. The Government issued a government resolution on the matter on 2 December.

20.11.2017 | Workplaces want to support persons who have mental health problems and their capacity for work. Work communities need to be coached to encounter fellow workers who have been absent from work due to mental health problems. In addition, the work tasks need to be adjusted to meet the situation of the mental health rehabilitee. This is what a clear majority of the respondents to the mental health barometer say.

Väestön työurien vahvistaminen työkykyä tukemalla Työikäisen väestön pitäminen työkykyisenä ja ennenaikaisen eläköitymisen ehkäiseminen perustuvat työkyvyn tukemiseen. Työkyky muodostuu toimintakyvystä, terveydentilasta, arvoista, asenteista, moti...

1.9.2017 | From now on, there will be four departments at the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, instead of the earlier five departments.