Haku

22.12.2025 | As of 1 January 2026, an employment relationship may be terminated on less weightier grounds if the employee violates the obligations arising from the employment relationship. Whether sufficient grounds for dismissal exist will continue to be based on a comprehensive consideration, and dismissal may not take place for a minor or discriminatory reason.

12.6.2025 | The legislation aims to ensure the continuity of society’s critical functions during industrial action if the parties cannot by negotiation reach an agreement on the provision of essential work during the action. The Government proposes that the President of the Republic approve the legislative amendments on 13 June 2025. The amendments would come into force on 16 June 2025.

22.5.2025 | The amendments to the Act on Co-operation within Undertakings (Co-operation Act) will raise the application threshold of the Act and shorten the duration of change negotiations. The Government proposes that the President of the Republic approve the legislative amendments at the presidential session on 23 May 2025. The amendments would enter into force on 1 July 2025.

16.5.2024 | The Government proposes that the President of the Republic approve the amendments to industrial peace legislation at the presidential session on 17 May 2024. The amendments would enter into force on 18 May 2024.

19.12.2024 | On 19 December 2024, the President of the Republic approved the Act on Offshore Wind Power in the Exclusive Economic Zone. The Act will help promote offshore wind power in the exclusive economic zone, clarify the regulation of offshore wind power projects within the zone and ensure that the rights to the exploitation of offshore wind power are granted in a fair, transparent and predictable manner.

25.4.2019 | Amendments to the Non-Military Service Act will permit the reapplication to the Finnish Defence Forces’ reserve personnel of those whose application for non-military service has already been approved, after the year during which the conscripts turn 28, provided they have not yet begun their supplementary service. The amendment will improve the equal treatment of different-aged persons liable to complete supplementary service.

4.7.2019 | The new Working Hours Act caters to changes in the labour market and working life, such as the growing popularity of time and location independent working. The Act also caters to the requirements of the Working Hours Directive and its interpretations. The amendments will enter into force on 1 January 2020.

21.2.2019 | The interconnected natural gas markets of Finland, Estonia and Latvia will open to competition in early 2020 once the Balticconnector pipeline connecting the Finnish and Estonian gas networks is up and running. The Government proposes that the amendments to the Natural Gas Market Act enabling this reform be ratified at the presidential session on 22 February 2019.

14.3.2019 | Amendments to the Annual Holidays Act safeguard the employees’ right to four weeks of paid annual leave, as mandated by the European Union legislation, even if they have been absent from work due to sickness or medical rehabilitation.

2.3.2023 | The acts on the temporary retroactive reimbursement for electricity costs, the extension to payment period of electricity bills and the temporary support to secure the liquidity of electricity companies and other related legislation will enter into force on 6 March 2023. The acts are set to be approved at the presidential session on Friday.

10.3.2022 | A new application round will be organised for business cost support and closure compensation. Companies will apply for support at the State Treasury. The Government proposes that the amendments be ratified in the presidential session on 11 March 2022. The legislative amendments will enter into force on 15 March 2022.

26.3.2020 | The provision obligating employers to notify the TE Office of dismissals of ten employees or more on financial or production-related grounds will be re-included in the Employment Contracts Act. The amendment will enter into force on 9 April 2020.

28.3.2019 | Coal-fired power and heating generation will be banned as of 1 May 2029. The Government will present its bill for approval in the presidential session on Friday, and if approved, the act would enter into force in early April. Similarly, bills to promote the use of transport biofuels and biofuel oil for heating and machinery will be presented for approval on 29 March 2019.

14.3.2019 | The Government proposes that amendments to the Act on the Provision of Services and the Act on Cross-Border Injunction Proceedings be ratified in the presidential session on 15 March 2019. These amendments involve new supervisory duties for the Consumer Ombudsman regarding geo-blocking.

14.2.2019 | The interconnected natural gas markets of Finland, Estonia and Latvia will open to competition in the beginning of 2020 once the Balticconnector pipeline is up and running. The amendments to the Natural Gas Market Act enabling such a reform will enter into force in a few weeks’ time.