Finland Times

 

File picture of foreign workers in Finland. Photo- Lehtikuva.

The Ministry of Social Affair and Health is considering the right to social security for foreigners coming to work in the country.

 

One is entitled to the right to social security in the country in which a person works under the EU legislation.

 

Under the national law, a person is entitled only to portion of the social security, if one is temporarily employed in the country.

 

"We are contemplating to which extent the EU equality treatment must be understood in practice, for example if the amount of hours of work per week or specified amount of employment period will count before the right to full social security is guaranteed," said Carin Lindqvist-Virtanen from the Ministry of Social Affair and Health.

 

Paula Risikko, the minister of social affair and health, said national regulations on social security must be adhered to as far as possible.

 

Temporary jobs have been on the rise in the country over the last few years with most workers coming from Estonia, the Nordic countries and Russia, according to the Ministry of Social Affair and Health sources.

 

The ministry is scheduled to complete the report on the issue in spring.

 

Earlier, the parliament in late 2013 approved a bill entitling people coming to work in Finland from countries outside the European Union, third countries as they are termed, will in future have the right to residence-based social security benefits on the basis of their employment in Finland.

 

Eligibility for social security benefits requires that the person has worked in Finland for a minimum of a continuous period of four months.