Advice relating to seasonal labour from abroad is available from the TöitäSuomesta (‘WorkfromFinland’) service. Assistance with obtaining and employing labour is also available through www.te-palvelut.fi.

The Finnish Government allows the health-secure entry of seasonal primary production workers into the country for the growing season of 2021. No quotas on the country of origin or employer have been set for seasonal workers in 2021. 

Currently, entry is permitted only for seasonal work critical to the security of supply that does not tolerate delay. Such tasks are listed in list based on an assessment by the authorities.The employer must check that the worker’s task is included on the list. A plan on health security for workers must be in place.

Seasonal labour refers to individuals arriving for short-term seasonal work. Persons entering Finland with a residence permit are subject to the general entry requirements.

Upon arriving in Finland, seasonal workers must present the following:

• form completed by the employer Employer’s or client’s justification for the necessity of an employee entering the country
• the required travel document (usually a passport) and
• for third-country citizens, a seasonal work certificate (visa not required), seasonal work visa (visa required) or seasonal work residence permit if the work season is longer than 90 days. 

The final decision on entry to Finland is made by the border authority, i.e. a representative of the Finnish Border Guard. The Finnish Border Guard does not issue advance rulings on entry into the country.

Due to the coronavirus situation, the same number of seasonal workers may not be obtained from abroad as in normal years. The situation may affect the willingness and possibilities of individuals to work abroad. In addition, final permission to leave the country is always given by the country of origin. Entry is also affected by other restrictions on movement and transport. 

TE Services and the TöitäSuomesta (‘WorkfromFinland’) service establish contact between employers and jobseekers.  
 

According to the guidelines of the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL), employers are required to have a health security plan for seasonal workers. The plan must clearly describe how health security measures are implemented. Detailed instructions on how to compile a health security plan are published in early March. The content of the instructions and timetable for adoption will be announced separately.  

The employer is responsible for organising and enforcing the quarantine. The employer must ensure that seasonal workers entering Finland transfer directly and securely to quarantine facilities. The worker and the employer are responsible for arranging transport in quarantine-like conditions and for the costs incurred. The public authorities do not organise workers’ transport to Finland or within the country.

Instructions for quarantine are recorded in the health security plan guidelines
 

In accordance with the guidelines of the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL), employers are required to have a health security plan for seasonal workers. It is essential to contact the doctor responsible for infectious diseases in the area. You can request the doctor’s contact information from the healthcare provider in your area or from the TöitäSuomesta (‘WorkfromFinland’) service.  

Guidelines for preparing a health security plan
 

A citizen of a visa-free country (for example, with a Ukrainian biometric passport) can enter on a seasonal work permit/seasonal residence permit, or can also enter visa-free for quarantine before the entry into force of a seasonal work permit/seasonal residence permit that has been granted.

A citizen of a country subject to the requirement of a visa may enter the country only when the seasonal work visa or residence permit is in force. The person may not enter the country without a visa or residence permit.

The employer is responsible for organising and enforcing the quarantine. Instructions for quarantine are recorded in the guidelines for preparing a health security plan. 

The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry or other authorities do not arrange the transport of labour to or within Finland. Travel to and within Finland is therefore the responsibility of the employer and the worker, including the costs of travel and the 14-day voluntary quarantine.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry recommends the use of flight pooling and charter flights, particularly in the case of seasonal workers from Ukraine.  Flights can be booked through the Töitä Suomesta (‘WorkfromFinland’) service.

To ensure coronavirus-safe entry into the country, avoid situations where seasonal workers travel on their own through several countries. To minimize the risks associated with the coronavirus pandemic, it is recommended that the employer and the workers together plan a safe travel route from the country of origin to the workplace. 

Due to the coronavirus situation, the number of seasonal workers obtained from abroad may not necessarily be the same as in normal years. The situation may affect the willingness and possibilities of individuals to work abroad. In addition, final permission to leave the country is always given by the country of origin. Entry is also affected by other restrictions on movement and transport. 
 

The final permission to leave the country is always given by the sending country. At the moment, it seems that the Ukrainian Government, for example, allows its citizens to go abroad for seasonal work. However, the Ukrainian Government requires that certain conditions be met. With regard to other countries, the information provided by the authorities of the country in question should be followed.

In the case of Ukraine, departing (seasonal workers) must have

•      a sufficiently long employment contract of at least 3 months,
•      a living wage,
•      health insurance/health care in order,
•      good working conditions and
•      previous experience of working abroad.

According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, the conditions set by the Ukrainian Government are met when

•      existing collective agreements are observed,
•      the employee has previously worked in Finland and
•      the period of employment is at least 3 months.
   

It is prohibited to bring any meat and meat products as well as milk and dairy products into the EU, in order to prevent the spread of animal diseases. This is a highly topical issue because African swine fever (ASF) is spreading throughout the world. Of particular note is that on production animal farms, the waiting time before the start of work continues until at least 48 hours have passed since the last animal contact abroad.

There are also restrictions on imports of meat and dairy products from EU countries, which must be determined before entry (see the links below).

More information on the website of the Finnish Food Authority:

•      Travelling from outside the EU to Finland
•      Import of souvenirs of food
•      Protection against animal diseases

The Finnish Government allows the health-secure entry of seasonal primary production workers into the country for the growing season of 2021. The employer is required to take the following actions: 

• According to the guidelines of the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL), the employer is required to have a seasonal worker’s health security plan and must implement it. The plan must clearly describe how health security measures will be implemented. Instructions for quarantine are recorded in the Health Security Plan guidelines.
• Upon entering the country, at the border the seasonal worker must present the form filled in by the employer or the principal, stating the grounds for the necessity of the worker’s entry. 
• The employer is responsible for organising and enforcing matters pertaining to the quarantine. Instructions for quarantine are recorded in the guidelines for the health security plan.
• The employer must ensure that seasonal workers entering Finland transfer directly and securely to quarantine facilities. The worker and the employer are responsible for arranging transport in quarantine-like conditions and for the costs incurred. The public authorities do not organise workers’ transport to Finland or within the country.

In addition, the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry recommends the use of flight pooling and charter flights for seasonal workers from Ukraine and registration in the self-monitoring system. Both are available from the TöitäSuomesta.fi (‘WorkfromFinland’) site. 

To ensure coronavirus-safe entry into the country, avoid situations where seasonal workers travel on their own through several countries. To minimise the risks associated with the coronavirus pandemic, it is recommended that the employer and the workers together plan a safe travel route from the country of origin to the workplace. 

Also read the guidelines of the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) and the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health regarding the coronavirus, among others.

• Travel and the coronavirus pandemic
• Guidelines for workplaces to prevent coronavirus infection

If a worker is suspected of having a coronavirus infection on the basis of symptoms during or after quarantine, the procedure is exactly the same as for domestic workers or entrepreneurs themselves. In accordance with the Communicable Diseases Act, workers from abroad also receive appropriate treatment for coronavirus infection in Finland.

It is important for a seasonal worker to be in contact with Kela, the Social Insurance Institution of Finland, immediately upon arrival in Finland. Kela issues a Kela card to a worker with health insurance. A seasonal worker who has an employment relationship with a Finnish employer has the right to use public healthcare services in Finland in the same way as residents of the municipality, regardless of whether the worker comes from an EU country or from outside the EU. A seasonal worker receives treatment in public healthcare for the price of the client fee. For example, examination and treatment of highly contagious diseases posing a public health risk, such as coronavirus infection, are free of charge. Read more on the Kela website ‘Easier access to medical care for foreign seasonal workers’.
 

TE services help both employers and workers. Various recruitment platforms assist the meeting of workers and employers, and seasonal employers and workers on farms and in forestry can take advantage of, for instance, the Töitä Suomesta (‘WorkfromFinland’) services.
 

See the website of the Farmers’ Social Insurance Institution Mela:  https://www.mela.fi.

The Finnish Immigration Service is continuing the processing of pending permit applications. Applications are processed in the order determined on the basis of the date of the start of seasonal work indicated on the original application. Bringing the start of the working period forward no longer affects the order of processing, nor does it speed up processing.

Kindly avoid unnecessary contacts with the Finnish Immigration Service (Migri) regarding the processing of applications, as replying slows down the processing timetable.
 

The purpose of the restrictions and recommendations in force during the coronavirus epidemic is to slow down and prevent the spread of the coronavirus in Finland, to safeguard the resource capacity and resilience of our healthcare system throughout the country, and to protect people, especially those who are the most at risk.

More information on border traffic is available in the Border Guard guidelines.

The Government is closely monitoring the development of the disease and is prepared to change the decisions on border traffic if necessary.

Finland’s missions abroad keep their own websites and social media channels updated on current information on the impact of the coronavirus situation on the processing of visa and residence permit applications.

https://um.fi/finland-abroad

Food supply is an important part of the security of supply operations that are being managed in cooperation between the public and private sector in all circumstances. Security of supply in the food sector means that the population has access to the same amount of nutritional energy as in normal conditions (2,800 kcal, i.e. 11.7 MJ per day). Securing the food supply is strongly founded on national agricultural production. 

According to the National Emergency Supply Agency, the retail sector works as normally at present. There have been no disturbances in logistics, manufacturing and processing industry, or deliveries. The rapid change in people’s purchasing behaviour may have caused temporary shortages at retail stores. The retail outlets are entitled to place restrictions on the volumes purchased to ensure a good customer experience. We are monitoring the situation very closely in cooperation with the food supply sector. Joint action is taken by the central government, trade and industry, primary production and logistics operators to secure reliable functioning of the markets. 

Even if the people are understandably worried, it is good to remember that there is no need to buy more food or hygiene products than usually. All you have to do is make sure that you have enough food and other essential supplies to last for three days. Guidance (in Finnish) on what this means can be found e.g. on the website of the Martha Organization.  

The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry and Ministry of Social Affairs and Health have given recommendations to water supply plants, municipal health protection authorities supervising these and Centres for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment to secure water supply and sanitation during the coronavirus epidemic. 

According to current knowledge, it is not considered likely that the new coronavirus could spread via drinking water. The virus is also not considered to cause any particular risks to those working at wastewater treatment plants. 

The instructions do not mean any new obligations to water supply plants but their preparedness is based on the current legislation, mainly the Water Services Act and Health Protection Act. 

The Water Services Act obliges water supply plants to ensure access to water supply and sanitation services for properties in emergency situations as well. Water supply plants must draw up plans on their preparedness for disruptions and keep these up to date, and take the necessary measures on the basis of the plans. 

According to the Health Protection Act, health protection authorities must cooperate with other authorities and agencies and draw up a plan to prepare for disruptions affecting the environment where the people live. 

The functioning of water supply and sanitation must be secured to be able to maintain the basic functions of society also during the state of emergency caused by the coronavirus epidemic. Especially large population centres and operations that require a lot of clean water, such as those in healthcare centres, hospitals and food industry, are highly vulnerable to any disruptions in water supply and sanitation services. 

If the epidemic caused by the coronavirus expands, it is important that water supply plants and municipalities, together with the other water supply plants of the region, authorities and key customers using water services, make sure that their plans for disruptions and the instructions included in these are up to date. 

A situation that may threaten the functioning of water supply and sanitation is one where a large percentage of the staff falls ill at the same time. This is why water supply plants are urged to ensure sufficient resources for managing the critical water supply and sanitation tasks, making use of the plans for disruptions. 

Water supply plants are also urged to prepare for possible disruptions in the operations of service providers, including laboratories and suppliers of chemicals. 

Inquiries: 
Jarkko Rapala, Ministerial Adviser, Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, tel. +358 2951 63315, firstname.lastname(at)stm.fi 
Katri Vasama, Ministerial Adviser, Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Natural Resources and Water Management Unit, tel. +358 50 595 5317, firstname.lastname(at)mmm.fi 

According to current knowledge, the virus is not transmitted via food, including fish. This means that the primary producers and processors of fish and operators in the supply chains can work as usually, as long as they take particular care of hygiene and of the preservation of fish. Consumers can also use fish and fish products as normally. A key issue for both operators in the fisheries sector and consumers is that the precautionary measures to prevent the spread of the virus are followed with care. It is important to maintain a functioning and viable value chain for fish so that we will have fish and fish products available also in future. Read more about the coronavirus and food on the website of the Finnish Food Authority (in Finnish). Read more about support for the fisheries sector available under the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund and State aid schemes on the website of the Maritime and Fisheries Network at merijakalatalous.fi/en/. 

The new coronavirus is transmitted directly from human to human. According to current knowledge, there is no evidence that the SARS-CoV-2 virus would spread or be transmitted to humans via food or via pets or farmed animals. E.g. in Belgium, France and Germany pets that have been in close contact with humans suffering from the coronavirus disease COVID-19, especially cats, have been reported as infected with the virus. In some cases the cats had shown no symptoms of the disease. Pets are considered to have no role in spreading the disease, but in all cases the virus had been transmitted from humans. Despite these quite rare and isolated cases considering the extent of the pandemic, pets can and must be cared for in the same way as usually, taking care of regular, good hand hygiene.

Besides pets, minks on four mink farms in the Netherlands have been found to carry the disease. In all these cases staff members caring for the animals had shown respiratory symptoms indicative of COVID-19.

Based on genetic analyses, it has been concluded that the coronavirus COVID-19 would originate from bats because its close relative has been found in Rhinolophus bat (horseshoe bat) populations. Studies on how the coronavirus was transmitted to humans are under way. The hypothesis is that the coronavirus would first have been transmitted from bats to an intermediate host where it had mutated into one that can be transmitted to humans.

Read more:
UN Food and Agriculture Organization FAO

We can and must still enjoy our natural environment. However, we may wish to avoid the most popular hiking destinations and give preference e.g. to a forest close to our home. On Metsähallitus website, you will find guidance for hikers relating to the coronavirus. Metsähallitus wishes to remind that the same rules apply in the natural environment as in urban areas and shopping centres:  two-metre safety distance and good hand hygiene is always required, including in campfire and rest sites.

See also Nationalparks.fi: Guidelines Concerning Coronavirus

See the website of the Farmers’ Social Insurance Institution Mela:  https://www.mela.fi.