The Finnish Government proposes to partially continue the action of the legislative amendments relating to the unemployment benefit of laid-off employees and entrepreneurs, and the activities of Employment and Economic Development Offices (TE Offices). The aim of the temporary amendments is to secure the livelihoods of laid-off employees and entrepreneurs and to facilitate the handling of unemployment security issues in case of a prolonged coronavirus pandemic.
The Government has submitted the proposal to Parliament on 19 November 2020. Some of the temporary amendments, which are set to expire at the end of 2020, would be extended.
Laid-off employees have got a temporary right to study full-time without affecting unemployment benefits. The Government proposes that the amendment be extended until 31 December 2021. The amendment will apply to layoffs began on or after 16 March 2020.
Entrepreneurs have been able to receive a temporary labor market support if their full-time employment in the company has ended due to a coronavirus pandemic. The Government proposes that this provision be extended until March 31, 2021.
Due to the coronavirus pandemic, TE Offices have been able to organize periodic interviews with jobseekers more flexibly than usual. Interviews have only been arranged at the beginning of the job search and only for those jobseekers for whom they are especially needed. The Government proposes that the amendment be extended until January 31, 2021.
In addition, the provision that an unemployed jobseeker will not lose his or her right to unemployment benefit due to failure to implement an employment plan will be extended until 31 January 2021.
The full information and the source text can be found at Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment of Finland website.
Published 19.11.2020, FINREPO