Työntekijän oikeudet ja velvollisuudet

Työntekijän oikeudet ja velvollisuudet

Employees' rights

When a person starts in a new job, a written employment contract is usually signed between the employer and them as a new employee, which states the details and tasks of the job in question, including for instance working hours, salary, benefits, possible pay rises, pay days etc. Other relevant rules and regulations observed in Finland can be found on the websites of the Trade Unions. 

Employees have a right:

• To a salary, which is in accordance with the collective labour agreement or the collective bargaining contract
• To protection, which is provided for in law and in agreements
• To belong to a union
• To a healthy and safe working environment

Help in problem situations

The employer must adhere to the relevant collective labour agreement or public service collective agreement. The employer cannot, for example, pay a smaller salary than that which has been stipulated in the agreement.

Employers shall not discriminate against employees when making decisions on continuing employment, career advancement or termination of employment relationships. According to Finnish law, discrimination is a crime.

In problematic situations you can seek counselling with the occupational safety representative, occupational safety officer or trustee.

• If a workplace has at least 10 employees, the employees elect an occupational safety representative (työsuojeluvaltuutettu) to represent them.
• The employer appoints an occupational safety officer (työsuojelupäällikkö) for each workplace.
• Most Finnish workers belong to a trade union. In the workplace, a trustee (luottamusmies) represents the trade union and those employees who are members of the trade union.

Centre for Industrial Safety in Finnish, Swedish and English.

Employees' responsibilities

As an employee, you have the responsibility to abide by the agreed working hours. If you fall ill and cannot come to work, notify your employer immediately. Find out how many days you can be off sick before your employer requires a doctor’s note. Also, remember that you are expected to respect your work place practises. By doing this, it will be easy for you to fit into the working community.

Employees have a responsibility:

• To perform their tasks carefully
• To follow the supervisors’ instructions
• To refuse to take part in activities that are in direct competition with those of the employer
• To keep business and professional secrets confidential
• To observe the benefit of the employer

Further information

More information on working life, legislation, rights and responsibilities, work contracts and other matters related to work, in Finnish, Swedish and English.

Information on terms of employment in different industries:

On the Service Union United PAM (Palvelualojen ammattiliitto) website:
Hotel and catering industry
Commercial industry
Property services industry
Information in Swedish, English, Russian and Estonian.

Construction industry:
Finnish
Swedish
Russian
Estonian
Polish

Employment Contracts Act
Collective Agreements