Entrepreneurs to be temporarily entitled to labour market support in January–February 2022

Entrepreneurs have been temporarily entitled to labour market support on more flexible terms during the coronavirus pandemic. Due to the deteriorating coronavirus situation, this temporary amendment will continue. The President of the Republic confirmed the legislative amendment on 28 January 2022, and it will enter into force on 31 January 2022.

As a rule, a person who has been self-employed on a full-time basis is entitled to unemployment benefit once the business activities have ceased completely. During the coronavirus pandemic, entrepreneurs have been temporarily entitled to labour market support if their full-time work has ended or their income has decreased due to the pandemic. 

To be eligible for the temporary labour market support, an entrepreneur must meet the following conditions:

• full-time employment of the entrepreneur has ended or
• the monthly income from their business activities is less than EUR 1,103.92 per each person engaged in these activities as an entrepreneur.

The entrepreneur does not have to cease their business activities in order to receive labour market support.

Applicants should register as jobseekers at TE Office by 15 February 2022

According to the temporary amendment, labour market support can be paid for the period of January–February 2022. The temporary act will be in effect until the end of February 2022. In order to receive labour market support, a person must register as a jobseeker with the TE Office and the TE Office must issue a labour policy statement on their entitlement to labour market support to Kela. The entrepreneur can then apply for labour market support from Kela.

Entrepreneurs applying for labour market support should register as jobseekers with the TE Office no later than 15 February 2022 in order to be eligible for labour market support for the entire period of January–February. More detailed instructions will be available on the TE Services website.

The first similar temporary amendment to the Unemployment Security Act entered into force on 8 April 2020, and the amendment has been extended several times due to the pandemic. The most recent amendment was in force until 30 November 2021.

Inquiries:

Iiris Niinikoski, Special Adviser to the Minister of Employment, tel. +358 295 047 372 (questions to Minister of Employment) 
Timo Meling, Senior Ministerial Adviser, Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment, tel. +358 295 049 084 (questions from the media concerning labour market support)