SAK publishes major information package on working in Finland for new arrivals from Ukraine

Even though Ukrainians fleeing war have an automatic right to work in the European Union under the Temporary Protection Directive, they may fall victim to exploitation due to inadequate knowledge of the regulations that govern working in Finland.

SAK President Jarkko Eloranta stresses that, whether Finnish or foreign, everyone working in Finland is entitled to the same working conditions.

“Ukrainians fleeing war are in a very vulnerable position. We are already hearing examples of attempts to exploit their desperate situation, and we are seeking to ensure their access to reliable information about working here.”

While Ukrainians have previously worked in Finland on a seasonal basis and in such sectors as construction, they are now likely to work in other fields. The Finnish Immigration Service estimates that up to 80,000 people fleeing the Russian war of aggression may arrive in Finland from Ukraine this year.

“We are keen to provide clear and readily intelligible information on the rights and duties of employees in Finland for new arrivals from Ukraine, so we decided on a rapid enlargement of the Ukrainian and Russian language content of the Fairplayatwork.fi service,” Eloranta explains.

SAK launched its Fairplayatwork.fi service in November. The service now provides a comprehensive ABC Guide to Working in Finland explaining employment regulations in Finnish, Swedish, English, Ukrainian and Russian. Basic details of employment rights in Finland are also available in 18 other languages: Arabic, Burmese, Chinese, Dari, Estonian, Farsi, French, German, Kurdish (Sorani), Latvian, Nepali, Polish, Somali, Spanish, Tagalog, Thai, Turkish and Vietnamese.

SAK also provides an employment counselling service aimed specifically at workers and young adults of foreign origin. This free service is open to all and does not require trade union membership. The service is available in Finnish and English by calling 0800 414 004 or e-mailing workinfinland@sak.fi. The telephone service is open from 14.00 to 17.00 on Mondays and from 09.00 to 11.00 and 12.00 to 15.00 on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

Fairplayatwork.fi in Ukrainian
Fairplayatwork.fi in Russian