News / 03.02.2016

UJF: Unemployment security rules for freelancers clarified – somewhat

The new law on unemployment security took effect from the beginning of the year, accompanied by guidelines on its application issued by the Ministry of Employment and the Economy.

The UJF has generally welcomed the new rules, which it says ease the situation of freelancers who become unemployed. Problems with lack of clarity in the amended law over the status of unemployed freelancers had prompted the union to take its concerns to the parliamentary committee in social affairs and health toward the end of last year.

A key issue concerned the scope for freelancers to seek new opportunities for work without loss of benefits once a work order has been completed.

There is also, according to the union, progress in that freelancers with long-term commissions need not have such work automatically defined as their main occupation but as a sideline occupation, and thus not preclude eligibility for benefits.

However, the union believes that TE Offices (Employment and Economic Development Offices) still have too much of a say on whether work should be defined as a main or sideline occupation.

The TE Offices will have to assess the amount of work completed, rather than what it pays, but, the union points out, there is no indication of what workload would be considered an obstacle to an unemployed freelancer having to take a full-time job.

Freelancers will be able to carry out a small number of jobs without them being disqualified from receiving benefits.

Also under the new rules, freelancers’ own notifications that commissions have come to an end will be acceptable, instead of their being obliged to provide proof of hours worked. The more simple arrangement means that freelancers can more easily escape being defined as entrepreneurs and therefore more easily access benefits.

The union explained that while it believes that the clarifications to the amended law are an improvement, they do not fully address all ambiguities that potentially affect freelancers.

 


See also

All news

UJF donates an additional €5,000 to Ukrainian journalists

The money will be used to buy protective equipment, internet connections and generators for journalists working in the region.

Reporters Without Borders and UJF: safeguard journalists and reporting in Gaza

The war in Gaza has brought untold suffering and destruction to civilians over the past nine months. Gaza has become a media black hole. The true extent of the humanitarian catastrophe and human suffering cannot be understood without active reporting by journalists. It is therefore essential to ensure that journalists can work as freely and […]

UJF Council: cuts to public broadcaster a threat to Finnish security

The media need support, not cuts. Yet some parties are calling for a weakening of the conditions for journalistic work. The impoverishment of the media field threatens Finland’s overall security and democracy.