Different employment relationships
When applying for a job, you can already see the following in the job advertisement:
- Whether the employment relationship is continuous (i.e. indefinite or permanent) or fixed-term.
- Whether the work offered is by a renting firm, that is, an enterprise renting labour to enterprises or a staff renting enterprise. In that case, the employer will be this renting firm.
- Whether the employment is full-time, part-time or zero-hour contract. In law, the term “variable working hours” is also used of the working hours of a zero-hour contract.
- Whether the employment relationship is an internship or an apprenticeship.
Continuous employment relationship
A continuous/indefinite/permanent employment relationship means that the employment contract is valid until the employee or employer wants to terminate or end the employment relationship. If the employer terminates the employment relationship or fires the employee, it must have a valid and cogent reason for that. The employee does not need a reason to resign. However, you cannot stop working immediately, but only after a period of notice.
Fixed-term employment relationship
A fixed-term employment relationship means that you have been promised work only until a certain date. The employment contract states the end date of a fixed-term employment contract.
A fixed-term employment contract can only be made at the employer’s initiative for a justified reason. Justified reasons may include the following:
- You are a substitute for a permanent employee.
- You are a seasonal worker, for example, at a ski resort or as a berry picker.
- You are a summer employee or a Christmas assistant.
- You are in in-the-job training.
- You have asked for a fixed-term job.
- The job is a project to be carried out within a specific period of time.
- You have been unemployed for at least a year.
- You are studying under an apprenticeship contract.
However, a long-term unemployed person, that is, a person who has been unemployed for at least a year may be hired for a fixed-term employment relationship without a justified reason.
If the employer needs you constantly, a permanent employment contract must be made of the employment relationship. No fixed-term employment contract may be concluded without a justified reason. If there has been no justified reason for using a fixed-term employment contract, the employment contract must be considered to be valid for an indefinite period in accordance with the law.
If you feel that your work is for a fixed term without a justified reason, ask the shop steward at your workplace or your trade union about the matter.
Temporary agency work
When you are a hired employee, you have entered into an employment contract with the company renting the workforce. Companies that need employees lease you from a rental firm that pays your salary as an employee. It also pays compensation for overtime, holiday compensations and other benefits included in your employment, as well as pension and other statutory social insurance contributions.
You enter into an employment contract with the temporary work agency. You are therefore employed by the temporary work agency which is your employer. The work is carried out in another place. The place of work may vary.
The company you work in assigns your tasks and supervises your work.
The salary for temporary agency work must be no worse than what is stated in the collective labour agreement. Agency work is governed by the same provisions as any other employment relationship.
The company in which you work as a hired employee is obliged to tell you, too, about vacancies.
Apprenticeship contract
An apprenticeship contract is one way to learn a new profession. You will then study by working in the workplace and also studying at a vocational school, for example. The bulk of the studies is carried out at the workplace and a part at school.
As an apprentice, you enter into an employment contract and receive a salary for your work. However, you are also a student, and you can receive various subsidies.
Internship
Internshipis work by doing which you learn more, in other words, you gain more professional skills. If you are an intern, you are usually a student or another person who is newly starting to work. The focus of the training is on trainees being taught and him or her learning new skills.
Unpaid internship is only legal if the traineeship is provided via an official educational institution or the TE Office.
If the employer wants to test the suitability of a trainee, a trial period can be agreed upon in the work contract. The trial period pays a salary.