Where to get help?

Sometimes problems arise in working life. Where can you get help? Here are some places worth remem­be­ring when you need help.

16.6.2021

First contact the Industrial Union shop steward at your workplace. If the problem concerns some other issues or needs more specia­lised advice, you can contact the union directly. For contact infor­ma­tion, go to the web pages www.teollisuusliitto.fi/en.

The union has advice lines, too. Emplo­y­ment Advice at number 020 690 447 can help in matters related to collec­tive agree­ments and condi­tions of emplo­y­ment. These can be, for example, midweek holiday compen­sa­tions, annual holidays, salary increases, emplo­y­ment contracts or service increments.

You can call Working Environ­ment and Social Security Advice at number 020 690 449. It covers all workplace health and safety and equality matters. At this number they can also help you with matters related to income during incapacity for work, rehabi­li­ta­tion and pensions as well as questions about parental leave.

These advice lines are open from Monday to Friday from 8.30 to 15.00.

SAK, the trade union confe­de­ra­tion, of which the Industrial Union is a member, runs an employee rights advisory service for immigrants, At Work in Finland. Their telep­hone number is 0800 414 004 and e‑mail workinfinland@sak.fi. The line is open between 14.00 and 17.00 on Mondays and between 9.00 and 11.00 and 12.00 and 15.00 on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

You are encou­raged to call this service if you don’t unders­tand your emplo­y­ment contract or would like to speak to a specia­list to check the contract before you sign it, if you suspect that you are not paid correctly  pay not getting shift work or holiday bonuses or if you are facing harass­ment or discrimination.

Detailed advice can be given on questions concer­ning holiday entit­le­ment and working hours. The service can tell you about normal wage levels in your industry, too.

The situa­tion in seasonal agricul­tural work is often unclear. The Industrial Union has published – together with other organi­sa­tions – a compre­hen­sive guide to the condi­tions of work for this branch.

In English It is called Terms of emplo­y­ment for seasonal workers in agricul­ture for 2021 in English. You can download it from the union web pages. The infor­ma­tion included is also available on the union web pages in Finnish, Swedish, Russian and Ukrainian.

TEXT HEIKKI JOKINEN