Columns

The three/six-month rule, which entered into force in June 2025, determines the amount of time during which foreign workers need to find a new job, if their previous employment relationship has ended prematurely. However, the rule has a more limited effect than assumed. For example, the rule does not apply to international students looking for work after graduating from a Finnish higher education institution.

Finland is known as a country of responsible use of nuclear energy. Safety comes always first. Responsibility includes ensuring the funds required for nuclear waste management and for the decommissioning of facilities. An extensive legislative reform is, however, required to streamline regulation and licensing. The reform process is also driven by the need to take account of new technologies and the profitability challenges of the sector. The draft proposal for the new legislation is undergoing a round for comments until 25 August 2025.

Developing working life is a necessity in a world where technological advancement and global change are moving at a rapid pace. The cornerstone of Finland’s economic success is international competitiveness, which is achieved through responsible, sustainable technology and investment in wellbeing at work.

The Government’s main objective is to return Finland to a growth path. Concentrating the state’s capital investment activities under the Finnish Industry Investment Group is part of this work. Together with a stronger industrial policy task, additional capitalisation and a new investment strategy, Tesi will become an even stronger promoter of growth, renewal and investment.

In Finland, there is broad recognition of the important role that nuclear energy will also play in the future. There is a willingness to build new capacity, yet the profitability of investments has clearly weakened over the years. What different means could be considered to advance nuclear energy? This is what Director General Riku Huttunen ponders in his column.