NordenBladet — The restrictions concerning the activities of food and beverage service businesses, namely restaurants, bars and cafes, were temporarily added to the Communicable Diseases Act, under section 58a, in May. Now the validity of the Act on Temporarily Amending the Communicable Diseases Act and the temporary section will be extended from 1 November 2020 to 28 February 2021. Without the extension, the Act would cease to be valid after October. The President of the Republic approved the Act on 29 October.As the COVID-19 epidemic continues, the validity of the temporary provisions of the Communicable Diseases Act will be extended so that the general obligations regarding the activities of food and beverage service businesses will remain in force after October. Under the Act, the Government may also in the future issue further provisions supplementing the Act on the obligations of food and beverage service businesses in order to prevent the spread of a communicable disease. In addition, the Government may lay down provisions on the restrictions concerning the opening and licensing hours and numbers of customers of food and beverage service businesses by decree. Under the Act, the restrictions must be necessary to prevent the spread of a generally hazardous communicable disease in each area and in such food and beverage service establishments that the restrictions concern. What is new in the Act is that the restrictions on opening hours do not apply to food and beverage service businesses on vessels and aircraft that operate between Finland and other countries or abroad or to food and beverage service businesses that operate at distributions stations for liquid fuels.The Government issued a decree on the restrictions at its extraordinary session on 29 October 2020.The decree and restrictions are based on the Government’s hybrid strategy, which aims to curb the epidemic effectively while minimising the adverse impact on people, businesses, society and the exercise of fundamental rights.

Source: Valtioneuvosto.fi

NordenBladet — The Government decided on 29 October to impose temporary restrictions on the activities of food and beverage service businesses as of 1 November 2020. The decree was adopted under the new temporary provisions of the Communicable Diseases Act and will remain in force until 15 December 2020.*The current requirements for food and beverage service businesses concerning guidance, hygiene practices and safe distances in customer seating will remain unchanged. Similarly, food and beverage service businesses are still subject to the existing obligations concerning the planning of their activities. The decree elaborates on the restrictions on the amount of customer seating in food and beverage service businesses and on opening hours and hours when alcohol can be served.
In the regions of Uusimaa, Southwest Finland, Kanta-Häme, Pirkanmaa and Ostrobothnia, which are currently in the acceleration or community transmission phase of the epidemic, the amount of customer seating in businesses that primarily serve alcoholic beverages is now restricted to half the normal amount. These businesses typically include pubs, bars and nightclubs.For other food and beverage service businesses in the above-mentioned regions, the amount of customer seating is restricted to three quarters of the normal amount. These businesses typically include restaurants, cafes, fast food restaurants and pizzerias. In other parts of Finland, the number of customer seats is not restricted. Restrictions on opening hours and the serving of alcoholic beverages according to the epidemiological situationIn the regions of Uusimaa, Southwest Finland, Kanta-Häme, Pirkanmaa and Ostrobothnia, which are currently in the acceleration or community transmission phase of the epidemic, businesses must stop serving alcoholic beverages by 22.00 at the latest. All food and beverage service businesses in Ostrobothnia must be closed by 23.00 at the latest. In the other regions listed above, businesses that primarily serve alcoholic beverages must also be closed at 23.00, but other food and beverage service businesses may remain open until 24.00. Businesses in other parts of Finland must stop serving alcohol by 24.00 at the latest, as is currently the case. In locations outside the regions of Uusimaa, Southwest Finland, Kanta-Häme, Pirkanmaa and Ostrobothnia, businesses that primarily serve alcoholic beverage must close by 1.00 at the latest, but other food and beverage service businesses may be open round the clock. Otherwise, the decree adds flexibility to the restrictions on the opening hours of food and beverage service businesses so that businesses subject to the restrictions may reopen one hour after closing. This means that in line with the decree, a business that has stopped serving alcoholic beverages at 24.00 and must close at 1.00 may reopen as a night cafe starting at 2.00, for example.
The restrictions on opening hours do not apply to food and beverage service businesses on vessels and aircraft that operate between Finland and other countries or abroad or to food and beverage service businesses that operate at distribution stations for liquid fuels.Going forward, if there are no COVID-19 infections in a region, the above-mentioned restrictions will be lifted altogether by amending the decree.The Government is continuously monitoring the development of the epidemic to make sure that only those restrictions needed to prevent the spread COVID-19 are in place in each region and in the food and beverage service businesses subject to restrictions.* Correction made on 29 October at 17.00: the decree will remain in force until 15 December 2020.

Source: Valtioneuvosto.fi

NordenBladet — On 29 October, the Government has submitted a proposal to Parliament, according to which the Centres for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment as well as the Employment and Economic Development Offices could acquire and offer studies leading to a university degree as labour market training when certain preconditions are met between 1 January 2021 and 30 June 2022. The aim of the proposal is to promote employment and secure the availability of competent workforce especially in growing sectors and, simultaneously, take the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the labour market into account.It is proposed that the Act on public employment and business service (916/2012) be amended temporarily so that the following could be acquired as labour market training, in addition to the current training:studies leading to a university degree in order to complete interrupted university studies,studies leading to a university degree for a person who already has a post-secondary level degree or a similar level degree completed abroad in the same field,studies leading to a new university degree for a private customer who has already completed a university degree if the person can be accepted, based on their previous degree, to an education targeted at a limited group of people for which the eligibility of the applicants is defined separately by the university and if the studies are estimated to be completed within 24 months.To be admitted as a student would require, similar to all labour market training, that the person is suitable for the training and for the profession or task pursued and that the Employment and Economic Development Office has stated that the person needs training. When acquiring studies leading to a university degree as labour market training, the Employment and Economic Development Office would select the students and the university or university of applied sciences would decide on the admittance of the student.The amended act is to take effect on 1 January 2021 and be valid until the end of June 2022. The act would be applied to studies referred to in the proposal which start, at the latest, on 30 June 2022 and end, at the latest, on 30 June 2024.The labour market training leading to a university degree is a response to the changes and skill shortage in the labour market brought about by the coronavirus pandemicAccording to the valid Act on public employment and business service, the Centres for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment as well as the Employment and Economic Development Offices can acquire vocationally oriented training, but not university-level studies which lead to a degree.In certain sectors, there has been a shortage of university of applied sciences and university professionals already before, and the coronavirus pandemic has partly changed the dynamics of the labour markets and the need for new type of skills has been highlighted. For example, it is estimated that the demand is higher for ICT, environmental technology, biotechnology, health care and social services professionals during the coronavirus pandemic and resultant economic crisis as well as after the situation improves. In order to be prepared for this situation, the Government proposed temporary changes to the provisions concerning the labour market training.The labour market training would be a quick and flexible tool for the acute need of implementing a maximum 24-month studies leading to a degree and would supplement the offering of the education system. It is also the benefit of the labour market training that the acquired training programmes are planned especially stemming from the needs of the labour market of each area.Similar opportunities were previously available until the end of 2017. For example, the foremen shortage in the construction sector in 2017 was successfully addressed with two training programmes in which the construction sector companies, the Confederation of Finnish Construction Industries RT, the Employment and the Economy Administration and universities arranging the training engaged in extensive and good cooperation.“All measures that have proven effective to improve the skills of job seekers and address the competence needs of the labour markets must be utilised in order to minimise the negative impacts of the coronavirus pandemic,” says Minister of Employment Tuula Haatainen.Competence development is part of the Government ProgrammeOne of the objectives of the programme of Prime Minister Sanna Marin’s Government is to create security amidst the working life revolution by means of competence. The possibilities of changes must be supported by all means by promoting competence, renewal, deployment of new technologies and spread of new ideas. One of the measures to achieve this goal stated in the Government Programme is the increase of labour market training jointly arranged with companies.The proposed amendment would be temporary, since the reform of continuous learning under parliamentary preparation will cover the target groups and needs presented in this draft proposal. The reform of continuous learning includes also the development possibilities of the competences of those employed, unemployed and not part of the workforce. The reform policies will be completed at the end of 2020 and their implementation will start in 2021.Further information:Special Adviser to Minister of Employment Piia Rekilä, tel. +358 29 506 4115 
Special Advisor Johanna Laukkanen, Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment, tel. +358 29 504 7017 
Senior Officer Meri Pensamo, Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment, tel. +358 29 504 7257

Source: Valtioneuvosto.fi

NordenBladet — The negotiations on the Climate Change Act between the Ministry of the Environment and the Sámi Parliament under section 9 of the Act on the Sámi Parliament were held on Tuesday 27 October. The Government proposal for the reformed Climate Change Act should be ready in spring 2021.In the negotiations the representatives of the Sámi Parliament presented their views on how the rights of the Sámi people should be taken into account in the Climate Change Act.“Climate change is a very serious threat especially to the Sámi culture and its traditional nature-based livelihoods. In the reform of the Climate Change Act we want to strengthen the rights of the Sámi as an indigenous people and their opportunities to participate in climate policy,” says Minister of the Environment and Climate Change Krista Mikkonen, who also took part in the negotiations.The topics raised included the importance of climate change adaptation and support for this, and the need to create a knowledge base, expert assessments and monitoring related to the impacts of climate change from the perspective of the Sámi people.“I wish to thank Minister Mikkonen for participating in the negotiations with the Sámi Parliament in person, which is quite exceptional. For developing a climate policy of and for the Sámi people, it is important to include a climate panel and climate change adaptation programme of the Sámi people in the Climate Change Act. Taking the rights of the Sámi people more broadly into account in the Climate Change Act is most welcome, as well as highly necessary,” says Tuomas Aslak Juuso, President of the Sámi Parliament.Online survey on citizens’ views concerning the Climate Change ActA public online consultation is currently open to collect the citizens’ views. The consultation consists of two surveys, and in one of these the key focus is on how the rights of the Sámi people should be incorporated into the Climate Change Act.The surveys are available on the Otakantaa website, also in the Sámi languages. They will be open until 12 November 2020. A summary of the replies will be compiled and delivered to the working group tasked with preparing the new Act and published on the Ministry of the Environment website.

Source: Valtioneuvosto.fi

NordenBladet — On 29 October 2020, the Government submitted a proposal on an act on the placing on the market of conflict minerals and their ores. The proposal aims to improve the transparency of supply chains.Conflict minerals originate in conflict and high-risk areas and include tin, tantalum, tungsten and their ores as well as gold. These minerals are widely used in phones, computers, cameras, aeroplanes, medical devices and jewellery, for example.

Conflict minerals and their production offers a great deal of development potential, but they also involve problems. In some areas, the proceeds from the sale of the minerals are used to finance violent conflicts or human rights violations, for example. In order to reduce these problems, the European Union has established a system for supply chain due diligence that imposes new obligations on importers of conflict minerals. With the help of responsible business activities, natural resources can be used to support the development of the areas.The Government’s proposal will bring Finland’s conflict minerals regime into line with EU requirements.According to the proposal, the Finnish Safety and Chemicals Agency would be the competent authority in Finland.The act is intended to enter into force on 1 January 2021.

Source: Valtioneuvosto.fi

NordenBladet — The Government submitted the seventh supplementary budget proposal for 2020 to Parliament on Thursday 29 October.In the proposal, appropriations are increased by EUR 1.5 billion and revenue reduced by EUR 341 million, which increases the net borrowing requirement by EUR 1.8 billion. Net borrowing in 2020 is expected to total about EUR 19.6 billion.

Source: Valtioneuvosto.fi

NordenBladet — The purpose of business cost support is to help companies survive the difficult financial situation caused by the coronavirus pandemic. The support is a compensation for the company’s fixed costs and payroll expenditure, not for loss of revenue. The Government proposed an extension for business cost support on 29 October 2020.Certain amendments are now being proposed for the support to align it better with the needs of those businesses that have suffered the most. The principles for granting support for business costs will stay the same, however.The amendments are planned to enter into force in December 2020, and the aim is to start accepting applications around the end of December. As before, companies will apply for the support from the State Treasury. The Government Proposal may yet change in Parliament.“The coronavirus situation remains difficult for many companies and sectors. We are responding to these companies’ distress and helping them over the COVID-19 epidemic by reimplementing support for business costs. We have also begun the further preparation of support for sole entrepreneurs,” says Minister of Economic Affairs Mika Lintilä.All companies are eligibleSupport for business costs is meant for companies that have experienced significant reductions in turnover due to the coronavirus pandemic and consequently have trouble coping with the fixed payroll and other costs of their business operations.A company can apply for business cost support even if it has already received other direct forms of support intended to alleviate the consequences of the pandemic. However, previously granted subsidies will be counted against the overall support cap of EUR 800,000, which the total aid granted to a company may not exceed. The maximum amount of support paid to a company is provided for in the European Commission’s temporary rules on state aid.Being eligible for business cost support still requires a significant reduction in the company’s turnover. The reductions in turnover are examined at the level of individual companies and for the sector as a whole. Comparing sectors enables the support to be allocated to the companies that have suffered the most from the coronavirus pandemic.A sector whose total turnover has decreased by at least 10 per cent is considered to have been hurt by the coronavirus. If a company operating in a sector whose turnover has not decreased by 10 per cent or more considers that the COVID-19 pandemic has nevertheless affected its business operations, it must present compelling evidence of this in its application.Applications for support are processed individually for each company, and a reduction of at least 30 per cent in turnover is currently required for a company to be eligible for support. The company must also meet the other conditions for granting support laid down in the Act.Support period extended to five months – minimum turnover requirement removedThe Government is proposing a five-month support period from 1 June 2020 to 31 October 2020. The previous support period was two months.The reduction in turnover is compared to the corresponding period in 2019. For companies established on or after 1 May 2019, the reference period will be from 1 January to 28 February 2020.The minimum turnover threshold (EUR 20,000 during the four-month reference period) will be removed in order to better allocate support to small enterprises. The minimum amount of support would still be EUR 2,000.The sectors eligible for support will be provided for in a separate decree issued later. The sectors will be chosen on the basis of turnover data from June to October 2020 obtained from the Tax Administration.Support for business costs one way of supporting entrepreneurs during COVID-19 pandemicThe support for business costs now being reimplemented is one way for the State to support businesses during the coronavirus pandemic. The coronavirus support previously granted by Business Finland and the Centres for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment enabled companies to develop and refocus their operations due to the coronavirus.Other support methods include Finnvera guarantees, Finnish Industry Investment Ltd’s funding programme, and the employment package assembled in cooperation with the labour market organisations, which eased the requirements on layoffs and cooperation negotiations, among other things. A temporary reduction in earnings-related pension contributions and a temporary amendment to the Bankruptcy Act have also been implemented. Other forms of support already granted include the special support for the food and beverage service sector and COVID-19 support for sole entrepreneurs and self-employed people.For further information, please contact:
Jenny Hasu, Special Adviser to the Minister of Economic Affairs, tel. +358 29 504 7213
Sampsa Nissinen, Ministry of Economic Affairs, tel. +358 29 504 7189

Source: Valtioneuvosto.fi