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18.3.2022 | Tämä asiakirja on dokumentoinnin apuväline ja vastaa sopimuksen allekirjoitettua versiota. Toimeenpanosopimus Suomen tasavallan ja Intian tasavallan välisen sosiaaliturvasopimuksen soveltamiseksi Suomen ja Intian välillä tehdyn 12. päivänä kesäkuu...

Occupational health and safety legislation is crucial to promoting employees' physical and mental health, as well as conditions of employment.

Occupational safety and wellbeing at work Shortly The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health is responsible for legislation, policies and international cooperation related to occupational safety and wellbeing at work in Finland. The aim is to ensur...

The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health guides, directs and develops legislation on occupational healthcare.

Mental Health at Work Programme Mental wellbeing is a success factor in working life and a driver of employment. The Mental Health at Work Programme emphasises the importance of adopting preventive measures and promoting mental health in working l...

Occupational accidents and occupational diseases The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health is responsible for developing and preparing the legislation concerning insurance against occupational accidents and diseases. The workers’ compensation insu...

Social insurance contribution Contributions in 2017–2026 Table: Social insurance contributions, % of salary. Employers 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026 Health insurance all employers 1,08 0,86 0,77 1,34 1,53 1,34 1,53 1,16 1,87 1,...

Occupational health care and maintaining workability The MSAH directs, oversees and develops legislation on occupational health care Employers must create working conditions that do not adversely affect the health of employees. Occupational health...

Legislation concerning income security The Finnish Constitution guarantees the right of all people living in Finland to Adequate social and health services Basic income security Essential subsistence and care. There is a range of legislation gover...

Statutory insurance A significant part of social security in Finland is provided through statutory insurances. This package is called social insurance. The insurance-based forms of social security include earnings-related pension, occupational acc...

Occupational safety and health (OSH) The MSAH prepares and develops legislation and policies on OSH and deals with international cooperation in this field. The ministry also guides the occupational safety and health work of the The Finnish Supervi...

Insurance-related appeals A policy holder, who is unhappy with an insurance company's decision, should first take the matter up with a representative of their insurance company. Policy holders may request a statement from one of the following insu...

Good Work Programme – Creating more appeal and staying power in the healthcare and social welfare sector Mounting service needs driven by an ageing Finnish population, higher rates of chronic diseases, evolving expectations and new technologies – ...

Social security internationally The Finnish social security system is largely based on residence in Finland. A person arriving in Finland for work purposes is entitled to residence-based benefits even if they do not live in Finland. The entitlemen...

The MSAH is responsible for preparing legislation on occupational safety and health care, and policy development on occupational safety and health and wellbeing at work.

Gender Equality Act promotes gender equality and prohibits gender-based discrimination In Finland, the Act on Equality between Women and Men, or the Gender Equality Act, lays down obligations to promote gender equality. The Ministry of Social Affa...

Appealing income security decisions The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health does not process requests for a review, objections or complaints. Instead, it drafts legislation on appeal boards and this way ensures the legal protection of people whe...

Services for older people Shortly Wellbeing services counties organise health and social services for older people. The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health and the Association of Finnish Cities and Municipalities have published a quality recomme...

Family benefits The purpose of the benefit system for children and families is to safeguard the subsistence of the child and those responsible for his or her care, and to support the care of the child. The benefits are applied for at the Social In...

Earnings-related pension People earn earnings-related pension based on their earnings from work or self-employment. An earnings-related pension is paid to a person who has accrued pension according to their earnings either in an employment relatio...

Legislation concerning children, young people and families Family leaves Family leaves are regulated in the Employment Contracts Act. The Act contains provisions on the rights of parents to take leave for family reasons. Employment Contracts Act 5...

Whistleblower protection Whistleblower protection safeguards people who report certain types of misconduct. In this case, a ‘whistleblower’ is a person who, in the course of their work, discovers a breach of European Union or national law concerni...

Rehabilitation The aim of rehabilitation is to enhance the individual's functional capacity, independent coping, opportunities for participation, work and study ability as well as their opportunities for employment and continuing working. Rehabili...

12.6.2026 | 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.

The Ministry The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health (MSAH) is one of the 12 ministries in the Government. The Ministry's tasks promote the good health and functional capacity of people promote healthy living and working environments secure suff...

Sickness and rehabilitation All people living in Finland are included within the scope of sickness insurance. Sickness insurance provides reimbursements for loss of earnings and costs of rehabilitation. Sickness (Kela) Sickness allowance Paid to 1...

Supervising OSH The Finnish Supervisory Agency oversees compliance with workplace OSH in Finland. Occupational safety and health Administration in Finland The MSAH and the four-year framework agreements concerning The Finnish Supervisory Agency de...

Creating a good working life together A good working life improves wellbeing, the economic sustainability of society and the competitiveness of companies. A good working life requires that wellbeing at work, work ability and productivity be streng...

Health services The aim of healthcare in Finland is to maintain and improve people's health, wellbeing, work ability and functional capacity and social security, as well as to reduce inequalities in health. The healthcare system is based on preven...

Reform encourages both parents to take family leave The Family leave reform entered into force on 1 August 2022. The number of parental leave days will increase and there will be more flexibility for parents to take leave. The reform aims to incre...

Prevention of human trafficking The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health aims to prevent social problems caused by trafficking in human beings and to identify and help victims. The Ministry’s responsibilities include ensuring that victims of traf...

Pension security in Finland The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health is responsible for developing and drafting pension legislation. The pension system is based on a number of different acts. The pension acts can be found here: Legislation concer...

Finnish social security system The Finnish social security system includes benefits and support that protect people’s livelihoods, as well as the provision of health and social services and employment services. Social security provides income secu...

27.2.2024 | Tutkimussuunnitelma Teemu Rantanen / 1 Vuoden 2023 yliopistotasoisen tutkimuksen hankehaku Tutkimussuunnitelma MONITOIMIJAINEN SOSIAALITYÖ VANKILASTA VAPAUTUVAN TUKENA DIGITALISOITUVASSA YHTEISKUNNASSA (VAPAA) 1 TARKOITUS JA TAVOITTEET 1.1 Tutkimu...

Department for Clients and Services in Healthcare and Social Welfare The Department for Clients and Services in Healthcare and Social Welfare prepares and develops issues pertaining to the position and rights of the customer and the patient, healt...

Private providers of health and social services Private providers of health and social services, in other words companies, organisations and foundations, already account for about 22 per cent of the whole health and social services sector. They op...

2.6.2026 | The National Working Life Development Strategy to 2035 has been completed. The strategy aims to accelerate Finland’s economic growth by modernising the world of work so that Finnish workplaces become more innovative, more productive and better places to work. The Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment, the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, and the Ministry of Education and Culture published the strategy and an accompanying implementation roadmap on 2 June 2026.

Private providers of health and social services, in other words companies, organisations and foundations, already account for about 22 per cent of the whole health and social services sector. They operate in both publicly and privately funded markets.

Chemical oversight Chemicals legislation prevents harm caused by chemicals Chemicals legislation prevents harm caused by chemicals to health and the environment. The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health is responsible for the general guidance, mo...

Department for Insurance and Social Security The Department for Insurance and Social Security directs and steers insurance policy and is responsible for drafting social insurance and other insurance legislation. The Department handles issues that ...

Support and benefits The Finnish social protection system includes various forms of financial support and benefits designed to ensure that everyone has an equal opportunity to take part in working life and society in general. Children and parentho...

Insurance business in Finland is subject to licence.The government grants licences to authorised pension insurance companies that manage earnings-related pension insurance.

Open positions and the Ministry as a workplace On this page Open positions Trainee positions at the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health The Ministry as a workplace Service relationship, working hours, pay, and general collective agreements Well-...

Unemployment security In brief Unemployment security consists of a general social security benefit and an earnings-related unemployment allowance. In order to be eligible for unemployment security, you must register with the employment authority a...

16.6.2026 | 1(4) 12 June 2026 WORKING LIFE RECOMMENDATIONS IN CASE OF DRONE THREATS The social partners, the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment and the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health together have prepared these recommendations for workplaces ...

Healthcare and social welfare for undocumented persons When it comes to the organisation of healthcare and social welfare, it should be noted that there are people residing both legally and illegally in Finland who are usually referred to as undoc...

9.5.2022 | 1 KUNNALLINEN TOIMEENTULOTUKI EHKÄISEVÄN LASTENSUOJELUN VÄLINEENÄ 1. TARKOITUS JA TAVOITTEET 1.1. Tutkimuksen lähtökohdat Mitä enemmän kunnassa on sosiaalisissa riskitilanteissa eläviä kansalaisia (kuten työttömiä, matalasti koulutettuja ja epävak...

International examples to help Finland create governance model for wellbeing economy 4.12.2025 8.46 The economy of wellbeing offers tools for policy makers to secure the preconditions for a good life both for the current population and future gene...

19.5.2026 | Commitment to measures to eradicate sexual harassment at work We, the undersigned key actors in Finnish working life, recognise that sexual harassment is a major problem in working life and it must be addressed actively and through concrete action...

Data Protection Contact information Data Protection Officer Data Protection Officer Lassi Kauttonen The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, Department for Communities and Functional Capacity tietosuojavastaava.stm(at)gov.fi Controller The Minis...

Sosiaaliturvauudistus Sosiaaliturvauudistuksen etusivulle Sosiaaliturvauudistuksen yleisölle avoimia tapahtumia Tältä sivulta löydät sosiaaliturvauudistukseen liittyviä yleisölle avoimia tapahtumia. Tulevat tapahtumat - Menneet tapahtumat Millaine...

1.12.2025 | The EU ministers will attend the Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council in Brussels on 1 and 2 December 2025. On both days, Finland will be represented by Minister of Social Affairs and Health Kaisa Juuso.

21.5.2025 | The employment rate of registered nurses and practical nurses is high, with more than 90 per cent of graduates finding work in the social welfare and health care sector. Unemployed nurses cannot be relied on to respond to the future labour shortage in the sector. People who have sought employment in other sectors represent the most significant resource of unutilised workforce. Some relief can also be provided by pensioners for whom working is increasingly common.

22.5.2026 | Monitoimijainen sosiaalityö vankilasta vapautuvan tukena digitalisoituvassa yhteiskunnassa VAPAA-hanke 2024-2025 Laurea-ammattikorkeakoulu Teemu Rantanen, Laurea-AMK Mari Suonio, Itä-Suomen yliopisto Janika Lindström, Laurea-AMK Monitoimijainen so...

23.11.2023 | The minimum staffing level for care personnel in units providing 24-hour care for older people will rise from the current minimum level of 0.65 employees per client to 0.7 employees per client on 1 January 2028. During the transition period, the service structure will be developed and a number of measures will be taken to improve the availability of healthcare and social welfare personnel. 

5.6.2020 | The proposal aims to strengthen the financial position of people in need of unemployment security in a situation where many have become unemployed or have been laid off.

28.6.2024 | The Government and central labour market organisations have negotiated joint equal pay measures for the period 2024–2027. The aim of the Equal Pay Programme is to further reduce the gender pay gap. In addition to the measures set out in the Programme, there are other measures underway to reduce the pay gap.

29.6.2020 | The financial position of people in need of unemployment security will be strengthened in a situation where many have been unemployed or laid off. The central government will temporarily contribute to the financing of earnings-related allowances.

29.1.2024 | A recent report compares Finns’ state of health and Finnish health services with other EU states and Nordic countries. Released by the European Commission, focus areas of the report include the impacts of the coronavirus pandemic and mental health. Although Finland does well in many respects, there are challenges especially in the availability of health services.

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.

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...

8.12.2021 | The Government proposes a new temporary section (48a) for the Communicable Diseases Act, under which healthcare and social welfare service providers, i.e. employers, could be required to ensure that their employees do not pose a risk of COVID-19 infection to the persons they are caring for.

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.

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.

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.

22.6.2022 | On 22 June, the Ministerial Working Group on COVID-19 received an epidemiological review as well as an overview of the updated vaccination strategy and testing and tracing strategy.

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.

9.4.2020 | Finland’s COVID-19 testing strategy is based on the principle of test – trace contacts – and treat. This strategy was adopted for tracing infections at the start of the epidemic. At the same time, our central aim has been to increase the testing capacity.

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...

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.

11.2.2020 | How can workplaces ensure that mental health resources are valued and colleagues are supported if they have encountered problems? How can workplaces nurture and strengthen their employees’ mental health?

23.9.2019 | Ms. Aino-Kaisa Pekonen, Minister of Social Affairs and Health, and Mr. Takashi Murata, Japan's Ambassador to Finland, have signed a social security agreement between Finland and Japan in Helsinki on 23 September.

19.12.2019 | The age limit for the extension on unemployment benefit will rise by one year for those born in or after 1961. In future, unemployed persons born in or after 1961 will be entitled to extended unemployment allowance at the age of 62 instead of 61, as is currently the case.

8.3.2024 | Minister of Employment Arto Satonen will represent Finland at the Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council meeting in Brussels on 11 March. The Platform Work Directive, which has been in preparation for a long time, will be the only legislative matter in the Council. The Directive aims to improve the working conditions of platform workers.

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...

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.

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.

5.6.2020 | The Government wants to secure the financing of unemployment benefits under the emergency conditions caused by the coronavirus (COVID-19) epidemic.

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.

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.

17.11.2022 | On 17 November, the Government submitted to Parliament a proposal for gradually increasing the minimum staffing level in 24-hour care for older people. According to the proposal, the minimum staffing level would be 0.65 employees per client as from 1 April 2023 and 0.7 employees per client as from 1 December 2023.

6.8.2020 | At the national level, the number of new coronavirus infections is still small, even though there has been a slight increase in reported cases in July. 

13.8.2020 | The number and incidence of new coronavirus infections has clearly increased compared to the low figures at the beginning of July. Nevertheless, the number of cases remains relatively small at national level. The increased number of new cases is most evident in Helsinki and the Uusimaa region.

16.9.2020 | The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared 17 September World Patient Safety Day. In Finland, patient and client safety will be made visible by organising events and lighting up landmarks in orange colour.

28.10.2020 | For over six months, the COVID-19 epidemic has put an unprecedented strain on people’s mental coping and wellbeing. It is important that those who feel anxious or worried seek help in these exceptional times. Sometimes it takes courage to seek help, and it is fortunate that many have been brave enough to reach out and ask for help.

28.11.2019 | Experts from several European countries and organisations met in Helsinki to explore how to accelerate the fight against work-related cancer. The cooperation will be further strengthened by continuing the Roadmap on Carcinogens campaign, which aims to raise awareness about carcinogens and reduce exposure to them. An agreement on the continuation of the campaign was signed in Helsinki on 28 November 2019.

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.

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). 

24.11.2022 | On Thursday 24 November, the Government appointed Anna Cantell-Forsbom as Director General of the Department for Clients and Services in Healthcare and Social Welfare at the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health. She will take up her duties on 1 December 2022. The appointment is for a fixed term until 31 May 2024. During this time, she will be deputising for Satu Koskela as Director General.

6.11.2017 | Early childhood is full of new things, of joy, confusion, fatigue, and love. Family leaves are fathers’ right. They offer an opportunity to fathers to share everyday life with their children. It is important to use this opportunity as a man grows into fatherhood in interaction with his child.

20.1.2022 | The Government has amended the Decree on Communicable Diseases in respect of notifications to be submitted to the communicable diseases register maintained by the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare. From now on, physicians will not be required to submit communicable disease notifications of severe infections caused by the novel coronavirus.

16.11.2016 | The bilateral social security agreement between Finland and China will affect the social security of persons moving between these two countries. The agreement will enter into force on 1 February 2017. The agreement concerns pensions and unemployment benefits.

14.8.2019 | MINISTRY OF SOCIAL AFFAIRS AND HEALTH stm.fi/en I @MSAH_News I #EU2019FI Social welfare and healthcare in Finland Finland’s constitution requires that public authorities, in addition to providing health services for all, promote peoples’ health. T...

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.

22.11.2021 | The transformation of work and new ways to work offer both challenges and opportunities for the Nordic labour market and workers’ wellbeing. The Nordic employment ministers will discuss these topics at a meeting organised by Finland as part of its Presidency of the Nordic Council of Ministers on 22–23 November 2021.

21.11.2017 | The 2017 Mental Health Barometer has been released. For the first time the theme of the barometer is working life.

8.2.2022 | On Tuesday 8 February, the Ministerial Working Group on Coordinating COVID-19 Response continued the preparations for implementing the decisions made in the Government’s negotiations last week. The ministerial working group also decided in favour of lifting the recommendation on remote work at the end of February. Decrees on easing restaurant restrictions and extending the suspension of the use of the COVID-19 passport in its current form are under preparation.

3.12.2020 | The EU employment and social affairs ministers will hold an informal video meeting on 3 December 2020. Minister of Employment Tuula Haatainen will participate in the meeting, which will consider measures to improve the position of workers in the platform economy at EU level. Minister for Nordic Cooperation and Equality Thomas Blomqvist will represent Finland in the discussion on the implementation of the EU’s Gender Equality Strategy.

31.10.2019 | The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health and the Association of Finnish Local and Regional Authorities have updated the quality recommendation for child welfare. In the same connection, quality criteria was drawn up for substitute care and for monitoring it.