Personal tax number ID tag soon manda­tory at shipyards

From the begin­ning of July this year, everyone working in the shipbuil­ding industry needs a personal tax number ID card. This means that those working at the shipyard must wear a photo ID tag with their name, personal tax number, employer and whether he or she works as an employee or entrepreneur.

The rule also covers all emplo­yees working for any subcont­ractor in the shipyard as well as indepen­dent entrepreneurs.

How to get this new number and card? First, regard­less of your natio­na­lity, you need a Finnish personal ID number. If you do not yet have one, the tax office will give it to you. This requires a visit in person to any of the 18 nominated tax offices. The proces­sing time is from one to three working days.

Your personal tax number is a 12-digit string of numbers that can be found on your tax card. It does not reveal the indivi­dual’s age, sex or date of birth.

If you are working in the shipyard and do have the Finnish ID number, your employer can register your personal tax number in the public register of tax numbers. You can also enter your number to the register on the Tax Admini­stra­tion Omavero web pages.

After July 1st, you need the new personal tax number ID tag with your photo to enter the shipyard. It is up to your employer to deliver this card and see that no one works without it. The employer must also keep a list of all those working in the shipyard.

The goal of the personal tax number is to curb wage dumping and the grey economy.

The goal of the personal tax number is to curb wage dumping and the grey economy. Knowing who is working where and on what condi­tions helps everyone to get the income he or she is entitled to.

Since 2012, personal tax numbers have been manda­tory for those working on construc­tion sites. Due to this, already in 2015, the total amount of paid salaries in the construc­tion branch grew by 300 million euro. The amount of taxes paid increased by 100 million euro.

In the construc­tion industry, better tax control has led to better compe­ti­ti­ve­ness of those compa­nies that are working legitimately.

The Industrial Union welcomes the reform. Shipbuil­ding is project-based work, where rental labour, subcont­rac­ting and foreign compa­nies are typical. Due to security reasons, shipy­ards are closed workplaces. Unions and autho­ri­ties have had difficul­ties to oversee that the terms of work in shipy­ards are decent, collec­tive agree­ments followed and tax paid.

As the experiences from similar reform in the construc­tion industry are positive, intro­ducing personal tax numbers in the shipbuil­ding industry is a step forward to ensure decent working conditions.