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Working in Finland

Have you moved to Finland and are you working in the care sector?

Have you moved to Finland from another country and are you currently working in the field of social care, healthcare, or early childhood education and care? It is important for you to know the basic facts about working in Finland. These include pay, employment contracts, collective agreements and trade unions, for example. You can find information on this page.

What occupations exist in the social care, healthcare, and early childhood education and care sectors?

The social care, healthcare, and early childhood education and care sectors are called care sectors. Workplaces in these sectors include hospitals, daycare centres and nursing homes, among other things. Examples of occupations in these sectors include: 

  • practical nurse
  • registered nurse
  • radiographer
  • biomedical laboratory scientist
  • childcarer
  • social services professional
  • dental nurse
  • dental hygienist
  • physiotherapist
  • occupational therapist. 

If you are employed and your occupation is in the field of social care, healthcare, or early childhood education and care, you should join Tehy. Tehy negotiates pay and the terms and conditions of employment in these sectors, meaning the ground rules. We can also help you if you have problems at work. Join Tehy here.

Information on employment in Finland

Under Finnish law, everyone is allowed to belong to a trade union. A trade union is a workers’ union in a specific sector.
Hoitaja pitää potilaan kädestä kiinni
Hoitaja pitää potilaan kättä

Trade union

Under Finnish law, everyone is allowed to belong to a trade union. A trade union is a workers’ union in a specific sector. It aims to look out for employees’ interests and provide them with security. In other words, union membership is a positive thing.

Tehy is the right trade union for you if you work in the social care, healthcare, or early childhood education and care sector and have a degree or qualification in the field. When you join Tehy, you immediately get access to all the member benefits. Additionally, Tehy can help you in the following situations:

  • You do not understand your employment contract or would like someone to check it.
  • You want to know what the right pay level is for your job.
  • You want to check whether your bonuses or payslip are correct.
  • You want to know about the regulations governing working life in Finland.
  • You are experiencing discrimination or racism at work.
  • You want to know about shifts or annual holiday. 

In Finland, various authorities also have duties related to working life. For example, Tehy will not help you find a job, and you should consult municipal employment services for that purpose.

You can join Tehy when you want. You can leave Tehy when you want.

In Finland, trade unions do not represent the authorities or political parties. Instead, they exist for employees – including you. Trade unions have been around in Finland for a long time. 

Read a brochure in English about joining trade union Tehy.

Hoitaja ja potilas sängyllä keskustelevat

Join Tehy

Tehy helps you in matters to do with your work and employment. For example, you can get help if you do not understand your contract or you suspect that your pay is incorrect.

Join Tehy

More information on working in Finland