Underemployment

More than one in ten media professionals represented by the UJF suffer from lack of work

Action to alleviate unemployment and lack of work are an important part of the UJF’s advocacy work. Progress on this front will improve the situation of individual members and the union’s overall scope for collective bargaining.

Employment contracts that are of short-term duration must by law state why they are. The reason may be that the position is only temporary, or it may be a work experience position linked to training, seasonal or project work. The reason must always be stated in the employment contract.

A short-term employment contract initiated by the employer that does not give reasons for its limited duration can by law be considered permanent.

Temporary agency work is a relatively new form of employment in Finland that is spreading throughout the labour market, including in journalism. In such work, a journalist works for an agency for a user company.

The UJF has compiled guidelines on temporary agency work for use by shop stewards and occupational safety and health representatives.

The Ministry of Employment and Economy has published a pdf Guidebook for Temporary Agency Work.