NordenBladet — Minister of Employment Tuula Haatainen and Minister of Economic Affairs Mika Lintilä have appointed a rapporteur to assess what measures will be needed for the aviation sector to recover from the coronavirus pandemic. The aim is to ensure that the sector can grow sustainably in the future. Rapporteur Kari Savolainen will submit his proposal to the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment by 15 March 2021.
“Finland’s vitality depends in many respects on good flight connections, which cannot exist without a comprehensive network of airports. For example, many companies linked with the aviation sector are concentrated around the Helsinki-Vantaa airport where they employ thousands of people,” Minister Lintilä says.
“Aviation companies and employees have faced a severe recession. Now we need ways to improve the opportunities for the employees to find work and develop their skills. Such support has already been given to Finnair, with the TE Office in Uusimaa taking immediate action in August to help those made redundant,” says Minister Haatainen.
Ministers Haatainen and Lintilä appointed Savolainen as rapporteur on 22 December 2020. He has previously worked as CEO of Finavia, among other things. The Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment will also set up a separate monitoring group to support the preparation of the report and to evaluate the proposed measures. Representatives of aviation companies, interest groups and the public sector will be invited to participate in the monitoring group.
Aim is to ensure conditions for growth in aviation sector
Rapporteur Savolainen will explore measures in which the Finnish aviation sector can reach global growth as soon as travel and tourism have recovered from the pandemic. The coronavirus pandemic causes permanent changes to the operating environment of the aviation and tourism sector and to consumer behaviour. The rapporteur will examine not only how the sector can prepare for the changes but also how it can take advantage of them.The rapporteur has also been requested to propose ways to safeguard the skills of employees in an uncertain situation. That will ensure the availability of skilled workforce once the travel and tourism sectors have recovered.
The report will focus in particular on companies operating near Helsinki-Vantaa airport. The rapporteur will identify possible measures to attract more companies and investments to the area.
NordenBladet — Minister of Defence Antti Kaikkonen has authorized on 21st of December the Defence Forces to conclude a framework agreement with Bittium Wireless Ltd on procuring software defined tactical routers and their radio links.
The framework agreement covers delivery years 2021-2024 and all three Services of the Defence Forces will be using the products.The overall value of the framework agreement, without value added tax, is about EUR 30 million, with a maximum domestic employment effect of about 50 person-years.
NordenBladet — On 22 December, the Finnish Government issued a decree on vaccinations, which is needed to deploy the COVID-19 vaccination programme in Finland. The programme will use vaccines against SARS-CoV-2 that have been granted marketing authorisation in the European Union. It will be deployed once vaccines arrive in Finland. The decree will enter into force on 23 December 2020. Vaccination for COVID-19 is voluntary.
Finland will deploy voluntary COVID-19 vaccinations as soon as technically possible. Municipalities are responsible for organising the vaccinations. The Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare is responsible for delivering the vaccines to the municipalities and for providing them expert assistance.
The vaccine priority groups are as follows: healthcare and social welfare workers who examine or directly treat and care for patients with confirmed or suspected COVID-19 disease or who provide other kinds of urgent care, and workers and residents in care homes for older adults;all those 70 years of age and older; persons at high risk for severe COVID-19 disease due to underlying health conditions; other persons than those in priority groups 1–3.
Final priority order depends on the characteristics and intended use of authorised vaccines
The Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) will issue a more detailed breakdown of the priority groups based on age, risk factors, risk of severe disease or other relevant factors. It will be based on medical evidence and the therapeutic indications of the market-authorised vaccines. Vaccination of children will become topical once vaccines have been tested in children.
Doctors are responsible for planning and implementing the COVID-19 vaccination programme. Vaccine injections can only be administered by doctors or by nurses, public health nurses or midwives with appropriate vaccination training.
Healthcare and social welfare units in the public sector must organise COVID-19 vaccinations for their patients and residents and for the personnel who treat and care for them. The state will organise vaccinations in state establishments, such as prisons, state mental hospitals, state reform schools, the Finnish Defence Forces and the Finnish Border Guard.
Occupational healthcare can assist municipalities in the deployment of the programme by vaccinating employees. These vaccines, too, are bought and paid for by the state and they are delivered to municipalities free of charge. Municipalities can agree on vaccinations with occupational healthcare operators and distribute vaccines for their use. Occupational healthcare operators, too, must record all vaccination data in the Finnish National Vaccination Register maintained by THL.
All vaccination data in the vaccination register
Data on all administered vaccines must be entered in electronic patient information systems. This data includes the patient’s identification data, date of vaccination, name of vaccine, batch number, injection site, administration route and vaccinator. The vaccination data must be transmitted to the Finnish National Vaccination Register maintained by THL in real time.
NordenBladet — “The smaller you are, the bigger Christmas is.” This quote from Tove Jansson inevitably comes to mind this year as we near Christmas. At times during the past year, many of us have felt very small. We have not been able to choose the situation we are in, and at this time last year, we did not yet know that the global COVID-19 pandemic would put our everyday lives on hold as it has.COVID-19 will inevitably affect the Christmas and New Year holidays for every one of us. It is important that we all continue to follow the recommendations and guidelines in place in order to curb the epidemic. Through our actions, each of us can have an impact on what the next few months will look like.
We are still living in the midst of the crisis, and the end of the journey seems a long way away, but we are still moving towards brighter times. The shortest day of the year is already behind us. That gives us hope.
This year, we should spend Christmas with the people closest to us. Fortunately, we can also keep in touch with the loved ones we may not be able to meet with face-to-face. We can be close to one another even if we are not physically together. Let’s bring joy to one another through small actions: a Christmas greeting, a phone call or an invitation to get together online.
Our Christmas traditions may look different this year, but Christmas will still come. Christmas is a time for caring and for paying attention to others. Let’s take care of each other.
NordenBladet — The Ministry of the Interior has issued its annual decree on fees charged by the Finnish Immigration Service. The decree will enter into force on 1 January 2021. Some of the prices will be increased to better reflect the costs incurred to the agency in processing applications.
The processing fee for paper applications for residence permits submitted by employees and entrepreneurs will be EUR 690 or 610 this year, depending on whether the labour market test is applied. The previous fees were EUR 640 and 560, respectively. The processing fees for residence permit applications submitted online will remain unchanged.
The processing fees for citizenship applications will also increase. Starting at the beginning of 2021, the processing fee for citizenship applications submitted in paper form will be EUR 590 (previously 520), while the fee for online citizenship applications will be EUR 460 (previously 420).The processing fees for first residence permits and first residence permits for students will remain unchanged. The processing fees for first residence permits in the coming year will be EUR 520 for applications submitted in paper form and EUR 470 for online applications. The processing fees for first residence permits for students will be EUR 450 for applications submitted in paper form and EUR 350 for online applications. The processing fees are determined based on the costs incurred to the Finnish Immigration Service in processing the applications. The processing fee is still lower than the costs incurred in the case of first residence permit applications (excluding employee and entrepreneur permits) and in the case of residence permit applications for minors and students. Applying for international protection is free of charge.
Applicants encouraged to apply online
The Finnish Immigration Service is able to determine how processing costs are divided between online and paper applications. This is reflected in the processing fees: the fees for online applications are lower because they can be processed more efficiently and generate fewer costs for the Immigration Service. Applying online is also easier for customers, as they can submit their own applications and monitor the progress of their cases in the online service. The processing fees aim to promote the use of online services.
The processing fees also play a role in ensuring adequate resources for the Finnish Immigration Service, which helps the agency in meeting the deadlines set for processing applications. Measures are currently being taken to develop the agency’s permit processes and the electronic case management system for immigration matters.
The processing fees for all applications submitted to the Finnish Immigration Service are determined annually by Decree of the Ministry of the Interior on Chargeable Services of the Finnish Immigration Service.
NordenBladet — Finland’s missions have operated throughout the coronavirus pandemic. Restrictions by local authorities and the disease situation in each country have placed restrictions on operations and customer service and have required significant additional measures to ensure the health security of customer service. It has been possible to contact missions’ customer service normally by email or telephone.
Backlog in processing applications
Why are Finland’s missions around the world unable to provide customer services normally?
Finland’s missions have operated throughout the coronavirus pandemic. Restrictions by local authorities and the disease situation in each country have placed restrictions on operations and customer service and have required significant additional measures to ensure the health security of customer service. It has been possible to contact missions’ customer service normally by email or telephone.
What is the reason for the backlog in processing applications?
A significant proportion of visa and residence permit applications are normally received by an external service provider, which sends applications electronically to the mission for processing. Following the temporary suspension of external service provider services due to the pandemic, missions have made every effort to handle duties related to receipt of applications in addition to their other duties. Missions’ premises and human resources are limited, however. In many places, it has already been possible to restart external services to a limited extent, which is helping the situation. In many missions, queues have been cleared, but at several missions this process is still under way.
Why has processing of family reunification cases, for example, been delayed?
Although services were temporarily suspended, applications have accumulated in the electronic residence permit system (EnterFinland) continuously throughout the pandemic. Processing of these applications requires a personal customer service meeting at the mission, for example to verify the identity of the applicant and to save biometrics. Due to the limited availability of customer service visits and the large number of applications submitted electronically in some places, the processing process has unfortunately been protracted.
Why do missions not increase personnel to ensure that a backlog in application processing does not occur?
Increasing personnel would not solve the problem, because it is not possible for the physical customer service premises at missions to accommodate a higher number of customers at the same time while ensuring health security. In addition, travel and entry restrictions imposed by local authorities as well as, to some extent, the lack of air connections adversely affect or prevent the sending of additional personnel. In many places, travel restrictions and lockdowns also affect our customers in cases where they have to travel within the country to the capital city where the mission is located.
In addition, although Finland has a comprehensive network of 90 missions around the world, there is not a mission in every country. Travel and entry restrictions imposed by other countries have, in some cases, made it difficult for our customers to travel from their country of residence to the country where the embassy handling the affairs of their country of residence is located.
Applying an entry permit to Finland
How is health security ensured in services at missions?
As a rule, personal services are arranged by appointment to ensure that the number of customers is not excessive. To avoid infections, there can only be one customer at a time in waiting areas. The customer area is ventilated and disinfected between customers.
Why isn’t it possible for a relationship partner to submit a visa application? Why isn’t it possible for a partner to enter Finland with a visa, even though according to a Government decision this should be possible?
By a decision of the Government, as of 6 August 2020 visa applications based on an established relationship are accepted at all Finnish missions based on the exceptional case policy.Sometimes, however, the pandemic situation causes temporary, unavoidable interruptions to customer service at missions or make it more difficult for the customers to travel within the country to the mission. In a number of countries, air transport has been suspended by the authorities of the host country, so there is no actual possibility to travel to Finland or return to the host country.It is good to remember that, despite the exceptional case policy, all the conditions for issuing a visa under the Schengen Visa Code must be met in the normal way in order for a visa to be issued. The final decision on a person’s entry is made by the Border Guard at the Finnish border.
If Finland does not have a mission in the visa applicant’s country of residence, have a look at the next question.
If Finland does not have a mission in some country, can a visa application be submitted to the mission of some other country?
A Schengen Member State may represent another Schengen Member State if they have entered into a visa representation agreement with each other. Due to the pandemic, representation agreements have been suspended since 19 March 2020 until further notice. The missions of all the Member States are in the same difficult situation. Consequently, the possibility of having a visa matter handled by another Member State has unfortunately been limited.
Finland has sought to promote a common decision arrangement between the Schengen countries. Pending a common decision arrangement, Finland has proposed bilateral arrangements for visa representation. With visa representation agreements still suspended until further notice, the policy for applicants belonging to special groups is that Finland submits, on a case-by-case basis, a request to the country representing Finland to process the visa application of the person in question. Applicants for a visa on the basis of family ties and an established relationship belong to this group. .
In visa matters, the country representing Finland makes all decisions throughout the visa application process in accordance with the Visa Code and the country’s own national requirements and guidelines. These guidelines are determined at a central administration level, i.e. in capital cities. Missions act in accordance with the policies of their own central administrations. It is therefore possible that, even though Finland’s policy is to accept visa applications based on the exceptional case policy, the country representing us may not accept the application if the applicant’s situation does not meet the representing country’s own requirements. Moreover, any consideration of a visa and the decision to grant the visa are also at the sole discretion of the representing country. Finland cannot influence a person’s receipt of a visa, even though the exceptional case policy has been issued.
The visa processing procedure of the representing country may also be lengthy and congested, and unfortunately Finland cannot guarantee that the visa representation agreement partner country will process the application.
If Finland does not have a mission in some country, can a residence permit application be submitted to the mission of some other country?
With a few exceptions, Member States to not accept residence permit applications of another Member State for processing. Finland has always requested this option in connection with outsourcing, but no other Schengen state has agreed to accept Finland’s residence permit matters for processing.
Member States do not have the technical capacity to store and send to another Member State’s system an applicant’s biometrics, such as fingerprints and image, for an application.
If Finland does not have a mission in some country, then why can’t the application be submitted to an external service provider in that country?
Only since 2 February 2020 has the Visa Code allowed the possibility of an external service provider being located outside a mission’s host country. No Schengen Member State has yet advanced to making this change, as the coronavirus pandemic suspended the outsourcing projects of all Member States.Outsourcing is a process in which the personnel of an external service provider are trained specifically in the immigration rules of the country in question, and in which the electronic transfer of information obtained during the visa application, such as biometric data, is arranged on an IT basis from the external service provider to Finland’s visa system. An external service provider cannot therefore, without a separate agreement and information system interoperability, accept a Finnish visa application nor transfer information to Finland’s visa system for decision-making.In some countries, it has not been possible to accept applicants who need an interpreter for the residence permit interview.
Why is this?
This is due to the unsuitability of premises for the pandemic situation. The interpreter normally sits very close to the customer in a small interview room.This does not ensure a sufficient safety distance for the customer or the interpreter.
The Finnish mission in my country has a queue and it is not possible to submit my residence permit application immediately. Why can’t I travel to a Finnish mission in another country to which there are flights from my country?
In accordance with the Consular Services Act and the Decree of the President of the Republic, missions have their own jurisdictions and each mission serves the people living within its jurisdiction. Within the area of its jurisdiction, a mission has deep and extensive knowledge of local documents, contacts with local authorities and actors in the area, and the opportunity to serve customers in the language of the area. The pandemic is restricting the activities of Finnish missions around the world.
Other questions
Why can’t Finland, like other Schengen countries, issue a national visa instead of a Schengen visa?
Finland currently has no national D visa in use. Legislative preparation on a D visa was launched in autumn 2020, led by the Ministry for Foreign Affairs in cooperation with the authorities.
Does the poor availability of immigration services in many countries violate Finnish law or Finland’s international agreements?
The coronavirus pandemic has resulted in a very exceptional situation in which not all services can be organised in the same way as in normal circumstances. Legal oversight of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs’ activities is exercised by the Parliamentary Ombudsman. If a party considers that their rights have been violated, they can submit a complaint to the Parliamentary Ombudsman. The Parliamentary Ombudsman may also take matters for consideration on his or her own initiative.
What new means could be used to facilitate applications for visas and residence permits and cross-border travel? The Ministry for Foreign Affairs is working continuously to ensure that safe international traffic is also possible in the future. Utilising digitalisation, it is possible to facilitate processes considerably.Means include the above-mentioned national visa as well as exploring the possibility of conducting remote interviews, both of which are currently being promoted by the Ministry for Foreign Affairs. Q&A about travelling and coronavirus
NordenBladet — A total of 314,500 unemployed jobseekers were registered at Employment and Economic Development Offices at the end of November. This was 86,000 more than a year earlier. The number of unemployed jobseekers increased by 1,800 from the previous month. The number of unemployed jobseekers also includes those fully laid off. These figures are from the Employment Bulletin of the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment.
At the end of November, the number of people laid off was 76,400 in the whole country, which was 55,700 more than at the same time the year before. The number of people fully laid off totalled 58,000, representing an increase of 43,400 from November the year before. The number of people fully laid off increased by 800 from October.
The number of long-term unemployed — that is those who had been unemployed without interruption for at least a year — amounted to 85,300, up 24,200 on the previous year. The number of unemployed jobseekers aged over 50 was 115,900, representing an increase of 28,000 on the year before.
The number of unemployed jobseekers aged under 25 was 36,000, representing an increase of 9,400 from November last year. Among unemployed young people, the period of unemployment ended within three months on average in 64.1% of cases between January and November, which is 4.1 percentage points less than the year before.
Decrease in new vacancies
The number of new vacancies reported to Employment and Economic Development Offices during November totalled 49,400, or 7,200 fewer than in November the previous year. In all, the number of unfilled vacancies at Employment and Economic Development Offices in November amounted to 91,400, showing a decrease of 19,500 from last year.
At the end of November, the number of persons covered by services included in the activation rate amounted to 120,200, down 5,000 on the previous year. These services include pay subsidies, labour market training, work trials and self-motivated studies.
Statistics Finland: Unemployment rate 6.9%
According to the Labour Force Survey issued by Statistics Finland, in November the number of people in employment was 4,000 less than on the previous year. The employment rate was 71.8%, which was 0.1 percentage points higher than in November the year before. According to the Survey, the unemployment total was 187,000, which is 27,000 more than a year ago. The unemployment rate was 6.9%, or 0.9 percentage points higher than the previous year.
Key differences between Employment Service Statistics and the Labour Force SurveyThis information is based on the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment’s Employment Service Statistics and the Labour Force Survey of Statistics Finland. The Employment Service Statistics of the Ministry are compiled on the basis of the information in the Employment and Economic Development Offices’ customer register, while the Labour Force Survey of Statistics Finland is based on sampling.
In the Ministry’s Employment Service Statistics, people that are not in an employment relationship or employed in business are listed as unemployed. Persons fully laid-off but not full-time students are also categorised as unemployed in the Employment Service Statistics. The Labour Force Survey of Statistics Finland has a stricter definition for being unemployed: a person is unemployed if he or she has actively sought employment during the preceding four weeks and is available for work over the coming two weeks. The figures of the Labour Force Survey of Statistics Finland are internationally comparable and thus they are the official Finnish unemployment statistics.
NordenBladet — A working group appointed by the Ministry of Education and Culture has drawn up principles for the safe organisation of events even during the COVID-19 pandemic. The principles are geared towards the future, a situation in which the development of the epidemic in Finland has slowed down so that events can be organised again. By committing to the principles, the event organisers can indicate that they are adhering not only to official regulations and recommendations but also to specific measures drawn up by the sector in cooperation with the authorities to ensure the safety of participants. It also allows them to use the Responsible Event logo in their communications.
The principles drawn up by a working group appointed by the Minister of Science and Culture Annika Saarikko are based on self-initiative. The aim of the principles is to support event organisers in the planning and delivery of events during the COVID-19 pandemic. In its work, the working group has drawn on the background work carried out by Tapahtumateollisuus ry and the good practices applied in the events organised in 2020, which have now been put together in the form of principles for responsible events.
– Although the COVID-19 situation is now worrying, the working group has its eye on the future. Events are not put together overnight, but require long preparation. I would like to thank the event industry for their cooperation manifested in the working group’s work. The aim is that, as the development of the epidemic slows down, people will be prepared to attend events carrying the responsible event logo, says Minister of Science and Culture Annika Saarikko.
The working group proposes a “Responsible Event” logo for the event industry. With the logo, event organisers indicate that they follow the existing official guidelines and implement them in practice. With the use of the logo, event organisers have the responsibility to explain how they follow the authorities’ guidelines and the newly issued principles. The principles set out, for example, guidelines for safe distances and requirements for the use of masks and the drafting of a written safety plan. In accordance with the proposal for a Communicable Diseases Act, the principles are adaptable to the baseline, acceleration phase and the community transmission phase of the epidemic.
– The working group managed to set up common principles quickly and we hope the industry will put them into practice as widely as possible. The “Responsible Event” logo enables us to strengthen the trust of both the general public and the authorities in safe events. This will strengthen the operating conditions of the event industry as soon as the development of the epidemic allows the organisation of public events, says Maria Sahlstedt, Director of Tapahtumateollisuus ry.
The working group will continue its work in January. The aim is to create an exit plan in collaboration between the event industry and authorities to be implemented as the pandemic starts to slow down.
The principles were drawn up by representatives from the Ministry of Education and Culture, the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment, the Regional State Administrative Agency for Southern Finland, the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, the Church Council, the Association of Finnish Local and Regional Authorities, the National Police Board, the performing arts, Finland Festivals ry, Helsinki Football Club, Kulta ry, the Finnish Olympic Committee, Tapahtumateollisuus ry, Warner Music Live and the Finnish Broadcasting Company (events, live and sports).
Follow the working group’s work at the Gateway to Information on Government Project. The Gateway provides access to the principles drawn up by the working group (For the present, in Finnish only).
NordenBladet — The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health encourages civil society to participate in the preparation of the equality policy report by expressing views on what an equal Finland would look like.
The Government submitted the first ever report on gender equality to Parliament in 2010. At that time, Parliament required the Government to submit the next report on gender equality policy by the end of 2021. Preparation of the report has now started.
The Government Report on Gender Equality outlines the long-term national objectives. For setting the objectives, the report also discusses changes in the operating environment and the social conditions and their effects on gender equality. To support the preparation, the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health is welcoming views on what issues should be taken into account in preparing the report and what national objectives it should set. All citizens and organisations can submit opinions.
Cooperation with civil society is valuable
The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Education and Culture, the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment and the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, as well as various experts, are participating in the working group set up for preparation of the report. The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health is responsible for preparation of the whole. The report is discussed in a group comprising secretaries of state and led by Thomas Blomqvist, Minister for Nordic Cooperation and Equality . Stakeholders will be consulted again as the work progresses.Opinions can be submitted by answering the questions posed on the website lausuntopalvelu.fi until 22 January 2021.
NordenBladet — Finland will join the global Wellbeing Economy Governments (WEGo) network. The informal network currently comprises Scotland, Wales, Iceland and New Zealand. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has also participated in the operation of the WEGo network.The network offers a global forum for discussing the economy of wellbeing and other wellbeing-related issues and sharing information and best practices for the purpose of supporting decision-making. It also promotes the implementation of the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals.The economy of wellbeing emphasises the balance between the three dimensions of sustainable development — social, economic and environmental sustainability. In the economy of wellbeing, public resources are allocated for improving people’s wellbeing. In the long run, the sustainability and stability of society will improve.“Joining the network will give us new opportunities to promote the economy of wellbeing approach, for example in the recovery from the COVID-19 crisis. This approach makes it possible to create a sustainable foundation for a just, equal, climate-friendly and competent society which is better equipped to respond to future crises and to overcome them more swiftly,” says Minister of Social Affairs and Health Aino-Kaisa Pekonen.Theme of wellbeing economy is important to FinlandThe economy of wellbeing was the main theme in the health and social sector during Finland’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union. The Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council adopted conclusions on the economy of wellbeing under Finland’s Presidency in October 2019. The Council conclusions create a basis for further work on the concept in the EU. Since its EU Presidency, Finland has also promoted the economy of wellbeing approach in other international forums, such as the UN, the World Health Organization (WHO) and Nordic cooperation.The economy of wellbeing is also included in the Government Programme. Under the Programme, the aim of economic policy is to increase wellbeing. The Government aims, among other things, to boost the economy of wellbeing by investing in measures that foster people’s health and wellbeing and reduce their need for services.In Finland, the economy of wellbeing is promoted by the division for the economy of wellbeing of the Advisory Board on Primary Healthcare, for example. The Finnish Government discussed the issue of joining the network at its evening session on 18 November. Following the discussion, Minister of Social Affairs and Health Aino-Kaisa Pekonen informed Scotland, one of the founding members of the network, by letter that Finland would join the network.
