NordenBladet — On 31 March, the Government decided to extend the restrictions on entry into the country until 30 April 2021. The COVID-19 pandemic continues to spread, and we do not yet have adequate measures available to replace the restrictions. For this reason, and to curb the spread of COVID-19 variants, both internal border controls and restrictions on external border traffic will continue. No substantive changes were made to the decisions taken on 11 March. The changes will enter into force on 1 April.

In addition to the restrictions on internal and external border traffic, restrictions on the opening hours of certain border crossing points at the western border in Lapland and the eastern border will continue. At the border crossing points that are open to passenger traffic, the accepted criteria for entry are the return of persons living in Finland or in another EU or Schengen country and other essential reasons.Finland will also continue to provide assistance to its neighbour Estonia. In accordance with the current operating procedure, the Gulf of Finland Coast Guard District has informed passengers at the Port of Tallinn about the conditions for entry since September 2020. The aim is to ensure that passengers will not be turned away at the Finnish border. For example, a holiday or work other than tasks that are considered essential from the perspective of security of supply or the functioning of society does not entitle travellers to enter the country even if they have a negative COVID-19 test certificate.

Finland restricts entry from all other Schengen countries except IcelandInternal border traffic refers to traffic between Finland and other Schengen countries. Finland continues to restrict entry from all other Schengen countries except Iceland. The Schengen countries are Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden, which are EU Member States, as well as Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland, which are non-EU countries.

Restrictions on external border traffic to continue without changesExternal border traffic refers to traffic between Finland and non-Schengen third countries. Restrictions have already been lifted earlier for traffic arriving in Finland from the Vatican, and for traffic between Finland and Australia, South Korea, Singapore, Rwanda, Thailand and New Zealand for residents of these countries. Entry from these low-risk countries is not restricted due to the low incidence of COVID-19.

For other countries, the restrictions on entry will be extended until 30 April 2021.Cruise vessels are permitted to call at ports but passengers are not allowed to come ashore.Government still recommends avoiding unnecessary travel abroadUnder the Constitution of Finland, Finnish citizens and residents of Finland always have the right to return to Finland, and everyone has the right to leave Finland if they so wish, provided that there is no legal impediment to this.

However, the Government still recommends avoiding unnecessary travel to other countries, except for countries for which the restrictions on entry have been lifted. Travellers must be aware of the current entry and quarantine regulations of their country of destination.For more detailed information on the restrictions on internal and external border traffic, see the Border Guard website and the press releases published on 11 March, 18 February, 11 February and 22 January by the Ministry of the Interior.Source: Valtioneuvosto.fi

NordenBladet — The Ministry for Foreign Affairs will open a Visa Application Centre in Minsk for the reception of visa applications for people in Belarus wishing to apply for seasonal work in Finland. Estonia represents Finland in Minsk in other Schengen visa application matters. People who aim to submit a visa application for other than seasonal work purposes should follow the instructions of the Embassy of Estonia.

Visa applications for seasonal work in Finland will be received on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 9.00 to 16.00, starting on 8 April 2021. An appointment must be booked in advance. To book an appointment for submitting a visa application, visit the website of Finland’s Visa Application Centre.  The website and a page for appointments will be opened on Thursday 1 April 2021. Applications will be received exceptionally also on Thursday 8 April and Friday 9 April.  Persons submitting a visa application for seasonal work must visit the Visa Application Centre in person. An application cannot be sent by email or telefax.

NordenBladet — The Government proposes amendments to the Act on Municipal Experiments to Promote Employment, as required by Parliament at the adoption of the Act in December 2020. Provisions that would enable the transfer of a customer from a pilot municipality to the TE Office or to another pilot municipality would be added to the Act. Moreover, provisions on a large-scale transfer of the tasks concerning unemployment security from TE Offices to pilot municipalities would be added to the Act.Nearly 230,000 customers of TE Offices were transferred to local government pilots on employment when they began on 1 March 2021.

“The proposed legislative amendments will clarify certain provisions on the local government pilots. In particular, the amendments would make it easier and quicker to address unemployment security issues and take into account any changes in the customer’s circumstances during the pilot,” says Minister of Employment Tuula Haatainen.

Customers could be transferred to TE Office or another pilot municipalityAccording to the Government proposal, the TE Office could, at the customer’s request, transfer him or her from a local government pilot to the TE Office. The transfer could be carried out if it was necessary to safeguard the client’s linguistic rights, or to avoid a customer relationship that is unsuited for the customer, or for a justified reason related to the customer’s safety. Transfer would be possible if it does not jeopardise the customer’s access to services that meet his or her service needs. The customer could also be transferred to another municipality participating in the pilot, if that municipality agrees to the transfer.

More unemployment security tasks to local government pilotsAccording to the proposal, the pilot municipality and the TE Office would issue for their customers a labour policy statement on all the labour policy requirements for receiving unemployment benefits that are not subject to consideration or in which there is only little consideration. This is not a completely new task for the pilot municipalities, but instead clarifies the current implementation. From now, a municipality could decide on an unemployment security matter itself, rather than reporting the information to the TE Office for a decision. This will streamline and speed up the decisions on unemployment security.

Other proposed amendments to the Act
The proposal would also clarify the appeal provisions for discretionary reimbursement of expenses. A customer could not appeal against a decision refusing discretionary reimbursement of expenses based on the consideration of the municipality or TE Office. In other respects, the decision could be appealed against by submitting an appeal to the municipality or the TE Office that made the decision. If the municipality or TE Office does not amend its decision in the manner desired by the customer, it will send the appeal to the Social Security Appeal Board. If the customer is not satisfied with the decision of the Social Security Appeal Board, he or she may take the appeal to the Insurance Court.

The proposed Act would also specify provisions on the right of access to customer information systems in order to improve the services of individual customers. An official of a joint municipal authority participating in the pilot could obtain access to the URA customer information system under the same conditions as an official of a municipality.In addition, access to the customer register of the multisectoral joint services could be granted to others than public officials and to those persons employed by a joint municipal authority responsible for the tasks referred to in the Act on Multisectoral Joint Services Promoting Employment. Access rights to customer systems are always granted in accordance with data protection requirements.

The amendments are scheduled to enter into force on 1 June 2021. However, the provisions on the transfer of unemployment security tasks would not enter into force until 2 October 2021 in order to complete necessary information system changes.

NordenBladet — On 31 March 2021, the Government proposed new legislation to improve the legal status and earnings opportunities of foreign berry pickers and to make the competitive environment equal to companies in the sector. As foreign berry pickers have not been deemed to be in an employment relationship but instead to work as entrepreneurs, their status is currently unregulated from a legal point of view.

A letter-of-intent procedure was introduced in autumn 2014 for the authorities and natural product companies. Because of this procedure, the conditions and earnings opportunities of berry pickers have improved. A persistent problem is, however, that the procedure is only loosely binding and slow to react to emerging problems.

The new Act would lay down provisions on the rights of wild produce pickers, obligations of the operators in the sector, monitoring of compliance with the obligations and sanctions for failure to comply with them. The obligations of companies purchasing natural products would remain largely the same as currently laid down in the letter of intent. However, the obligations would be laid down in more detail and in more binding terms.

“With this legislation, we will ensure that Finnish rules apply to berry picking. While the letter of intent has improved the situation substantially, it is clear we need binding laws on wild berry picking too. The need for new legislation is obvious,” says Minister of Employment Tuula Haatainen.

The new Act would differ from the current letter of intent in that it would include an absolute ban on charging pickers for recruitment services and training. These proposals are relevant for improving the legal status of pickers from abroad. Operators in the sector would also have a cooperation obligation to improve the picking results.

According to the new Act, operators in the natural product picking sector should be reliable, and this reliability would be assessed based on compliance with the provisions of the Act. In addition, the operator should have paid its taxes and charges properly and be in the financial position to organise its business activities. Obligation compliance reports produced by the Tax Administration and its Grey Economy Information Unit can be used to assess reliability. If the operator is not reliable, it could not invite pickers to Finland, offer them accommodation or equipment with the aim of purchasing natural products picked by them. The Act would not otherwise affect the status or obligations of those purchasing natural products from pickers.

The occupational safety and health authorities would monitor compliance with the Act insofar as the monitoring is not the responsibility of another competent authority. The Employment and Economic Development Offices and the occupational safety and health authorities would be responsible for guidance.

The Act does not apply to the entry or residence conditions of foreigners picking natural products. The Act would apply when the work is not carried out in an employment relationship. In the case of work carried out in an employment relationship, employment legislation would apply as before.The Acts are scheduled to enter into force before the start of the harvest season of 2021.

NordenBladet — Ten years ago, millions of Syrians took to the streets of Dara’a, Aleppo and Damascus, calling for democracy and respect of their fundamental rights and basic freedoms. The brutal response by the regime triggered over the span of a decade one of the most serious criminal enterprises and humanitarian crises since the Second World War resulting in more than 400 000 deaths and in countless violations of human rights.

More than half of the Syrian population have had to leave their homes, and more than 6 million have fled their country to escape the regime’s atrocities. Tens of thousands have been forcibly disappeared, their families left without any information as o their fate or whereabouts.

The Syrian regime has used chemical weapons against its own people repeatedly, as the United Nations (UN) and the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) have proven beyond doubt. The regime has consistently refused to provide explanations to international investigation teams. But the survivors of its attacks are here to bear witness to what they have seen and suffered.

We will not remain silent in the face of the atrocities that have taken place in Syria, for which the regime and its external supporters bear the main responsibility. Many of these crimes, including the ones committed by Daesh and other armed groups, may amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity. It is everyone’s responsibility to fight impunity and demand accountability for the crimes committed in Syria regardless of the perpetrator.

It is a matter of justice for victims
Given the seriousness of the crimes, we continue to call for the International Criminal Court to be allowed to investigate crimes alleged to be committed in Syria and prosecute the perpetrators. To thwart the strategy of those blocking Security Council referral to the Court, we are working to ensure the facts are documented, pending examination by the competent judges. We therefore supported the creation of the International, Impartial and Independent Mechanism, which collects and preserves evidence for future proceedings. These efforts are essential. We also support the work of the Independent International Commission of Inquiry, which documents human rights violations in the Syrian conflict.

It is critical that these violations, which have been documented so thoroughly, come to an end immediately. We are also determined to enforce all international norms to protect the rights of all Syrians, as demonstrated by the recent action initiated by the Netherlands to hold Syria to account for breaching the UN Convention Against Torture. National courts, some of which have already opened judicial proceedings, play an important role in this. Prosecutions and final judgements have already been brought against perpetrators in several of our countries. Already in 2016, courts in Sweden started prosecuting grave crimes committed in Syria. Last month, a court in Koblenz, Germany, handed down a historic first judgment against a former member of the Syrian intelligence services for abetting crimes against humanity. Judicial proceedings are also underway in France, and a complaint was recently filed in Paris for the chemical attacks committed by the Syrian regime against its people.

The European Union has adopted targeted sanctions against individuals and entities close to the regime that are behind the repression of the Syrian people. We reject the regime’s narrative that these sanctions are to blame for the suffering of the Syrian people. It is the regime’s blatant neglect and mismanagement of the economy, which has led to the current economic crisis facing Syrians.

Today, we also need to provide solutions to the tragedy of detainees and more than 100.000 disappeared. It is essential for the United Nations to dedicate all the energy required to achieve tangible results, first and foremost from the Syrian regime.

Fighting impunity is not only a question of principle, it is also a moral and political imperative, and a matter of security for the international community. The use of chemical weapons, in any circumstances, is a threat to international peace and security. In response to chemical attacks, we have mobilized all competent institutions, guardians of the CW prohibition norms. OPCW teams have carried out fully independent investigations. To complete this considerable work, we launched the International Partnership against Impunity for the Use of Chemical Weapons, bringing together 40 States and the European Union. This initiative has made it possible to condemn those involved in the development or use of chemical weapons. And we will not rest until they have been punished for their crimes.

Lastly, the fight against impunity is a prerequisite for rebuilding lasting peace in Syria. Without a complete and verifiable end to human rights violations and abuses, the people of Syria cannot look forward to a bright future. Without accountability for the crimes committed, Syria will be unable to reconcile with its past.We commend the heroic efforts of human rights defenders, NGO personnel and civil society who risk their lives to bring to light the truth about the crimes committed in Syria. We offer them protection, where possible, and our legal systems are working actively to prosecute those responsible for serious crimes.

Full light must be shed on this decade of atrocities. Justice for victims is essential to rebuild a stable, peaceful Syria, based on a credible and viable political solution in accordance with UN Security Council Resolution 2254.Our countries are committed to ensuring that war criminals and torturers will not go unpunished. Their crimes will not win over the Syrian peoples’ aspirations for dignity and for justice. The article is signed by the foreign ministers of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Poland, Portugal, Slovenia, Sweden and the Netherlands.

NordenBladet — According to Finland in the World Media, an annual survey commissioned by the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, the innovative management of the coronavirus pandemic was the most important theme connected to Finland last year. Other news in the world media highlighted the strengths of Finland’s country image: equality, high-quality education system and stable society. The review estimates that Finland’s general reputation has further improved in foreign media.

The coverage dedicated to the female-led government and Prime Minister Sanna Marin supported Finland’s reputation as an egalitarian country. Equality, education and a society that supports wellbeing raised Finland at the top in the UN Happiness Report for the third time, and this was widely covered in foreign media in 2020.

NordenBladet — Minister Skinnari will visit Stockholm on 31 March–1 April. The purpose of the visit is to promote both countries’ access on a growth track in international trade after COVID-19. Worldwide and European recovery measures offer excellent growth opportunities for Finnish and Swedish companies when they explore solutions related to green transition, digitalisation and development of industries.

“The relations between Finland and Sweden are strong and diverse. Together with companies, we now want to create sustainable growth for this decade. The way out of the pandemic will open up significant new business opportunities in Europe and worldwide. However, competition is extremely tough. Finland and Sweden have much to do and much to win together,” Minister Skinnari says.

While in Stockholm, Minister Skinnari will have meetings with Swedish Minister for Business, Industry and Innovation Ibrahim Baylan and Minister for International Development Cooperation Per Olsson Fridh. He will also meet representatives of the Swedish business sector and of Swedish companies. Minister Skinnari will also meet Chair of the Committee on Foreign Affairs Kenneth G Forslund and Chair of the Committee on EU Affairs Pyry Niemi from the Swedish Parliament (Riksdag).

NordenBladet — The working group on peat, which was appointed by the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment, submitted its report to Minister of Economic Affairs Mika Lintilä on 31 March 2021. The report includes measures to improve the situation of peat industry operators as demand for energy peat declines sharply due to the emission allowance prices rising much faster than previously forecast.

The working group also proposes measures to ensure the security of supply in a situation where the use of peat for energy could fall by as much as 70% by 2025, as per some forecasts. According to the Government Programme, the energy use of peat is to be cut by at least half by 2030.

The transition should take place in a way that is fair and just, both regionally and socially, and that does not jeopardise the security of supply in terms of electricity and heat in Finland. The working group also explored ways in which peat, instead of burning it, could be used for innovative products with higher added value.  “The peat industry is in a difficult situation as the demand for energy peat falls dramatically due to the rising allowance prices. The working group was able to work and cooperate well. In response to the mandate, we highlight 26 measures, which focus on urgently improving the situation of peat industry operators. I hope that during the further preparation the measures will form a mutually supportive package capable of meeting the challenges. This, of course, requires political decisions,” says Timo Korhonen, Chair of the working group.

“According to the Government Programme, the reduction in peat energy use should take place in a way that is fair and just, both regionally and socially, and that does not jeopardise the security of supply in terms of electricity and heat in Finland. The working group is now proposing solutions for this recklessly rapid change to limit the damage to the peat industry. I will submit these proposals to the Government for deliberations,” Mika Lintilä says. “Ensuring the production and availability of horticultural and bedding peat is of paramount importance. For example, the production chains of wood tree seedlings and horticultural production are based on the use of peat-based substrates. In domestic animal production, bedding peat also plays a key role in maintaining animal welfare and production hygiene, and reduces the need for antibiotics,” Minister of Agriculture and Forestry Jari Leppä says.

Different ministries will now evaluate the proposals.Proposals to improve the situation of peat industry operators As the fastest and most effective measure to improve the situation of peat industry operators, the working group proposes a one-off package for them to close down their operations. In this context, consideration would be given to compensation paid in part by the State to peat producers for unsold stock; acquisition of privately owned or leased peat production areas for use by Metsähallitus; appointment of a working group to determine the level of compensation for the disposal of peat production machinery and equipment; an adjustment allowance paid to an operator who discontinues peat production, and preparation of an early retirement pension for older peat industry operators.

The second set of proposals relates to the controlled transition of peat industry companies to new business activities. According to the working group, these proposals would be less effective than the first set of proposals, but could be funded from the EU’s Just Transition Fund. These measures would include supporting new business opportunities for peat industry operators; regional measures focusing on regional vitality, promotion of employment and prevention of exclusion; a programme ‘From peat to bioeconomy, nature management and multisectoral entrepreneurship’ for peat industry operators; financial advice and support to peat industry operators; rehabilitation of personnel of peat companies; and State support for peat industry operators who are at risk of losing real property, including homes, due to bankruptcy.

Proposals relating to security of supply in energy
The proposed measures aim to maintain the possibility of producing energy peat during the transition period as, according to the working group, the use of peat as fuel should be reduced at a moderate rate during the transitional period in order to prevent a risk to security of supply. Expert consultations have clearly demonstrated that peat and wood are needed to ensure security of supply in heat production in the next few years. Other proposals related to security of supply include the definition of the minimum use of peat in energy production in different plants and its development in 2020–2030 and beyond, as well as an annual estimate of the amount of use and production required for security of supply. In addition, it is proposed that the lower limit for the tax-exempt use of peat per plant be raised from 5,000 MWh to 10,000 MWh, which would mean that only the part of production exceeding that level would be taxable. In addition, the floor price mechanism would be supplemented with a flexibility mechanism, where the tax on energy peat would be inversely dependent on emission allowance prices. As the amount of energy peat decreases in the next few years, the need for wood will grow substantially. The working group therefore proposes measures to ensure the availability of domestic forest chips, to encourage district heating companies to better prepare for exceptional situations affecting security of supply, to examine the feasibility of increasing the compensation for security stockpiling of peat, to secure areas for production of horticultural, bedding and energy peat, to examine the use of biocarbon as a fuel for security of supply and to promote non-combustion-based solutions.

The working group also proposes an aid scheme for new peat-based products with higher added value in order to promote product development and exports. The use of new products will also help the ongoing use of horticultural and bedding peat and maintain energy peat as a fuel for security of supply. The package of measures also includes proposals for sustainable use of the peat production areas that will be dismantled and for products to replace peat used for other purposes besides energy.The working group states it has not been able to assess in detail the effects that the proposed aid measures would have on State aid. These issues need to be clarified in further political preparation. The same applies to the use of the EU’s Just Transition Fund.   The working group’s report contains three dissenting opinions and one supplementary statement.

NordenBladet — On 31 March 2021, Finland will participate in the IEA-COP26 Net Zero Summit, which will discuss measures to speed up the transition to clean energy as well as means for States to cooperate more effectively to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2050 in order to achieve international climate goals.

Finland’s representative at the virtual meeting will be Minister of Economic Affairs Mika Lintilä.

The summit precedes the publication of the special report “The World’s Roadmap to Net Zero by 2050” on 18 May, which the International Energy Agency (IEA) describes as the world’s first comprehensive roadmap towards zero emissions by 2050. The Summit will also serve as preparation for the Conference of the Parties (COP26) of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, which will be held in Glasgow in November. The meeting will be hosted by the IEA’s Executive Director Fatih Birol and the President of the COP26 Alok Sharma. Participants of the Summit include energy and climate ministers from more than 40 countries, whose gross domestic product and greenhouse gas emissions account for the majority of the world’s economy and emissions. A number of NGOs and companies have also been invited to the meeting.

At the meeting, Finland will participate in a thematic group that will consider ways to build international trust in order to achieve long-term climate objectives. According to Minister Lintilä, ambitious climate goals require rapid and determined implementation globally. In this, using all clean forms of energy, promoting new climate-friendly business opportunities and planning policies based on the best information available are key issues, Lintilä says. The Summit is also available on the following Twitter accounts: @IEA, @fbirol, @COP26 and @Alok_SharmaRDG

NordenBladet — A total of 327,100 unemployed jobseekers were registered at the Employment and Economic Development Offices at the end of February. This was 79,000 more than a year earlier. The number of unemployed jobseekers was down by 5,700 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 February, the number of people laid off was 72,600 in the whole country; a year-on-year increase of 47,700. The number of people fully laid off totalled 55,700, representing an increase of 36,900 from February the year before. The number of people fully laid off decreased by 2,100 from January.The number of long-term unemployed — that is those who had been unemployed without interruption for at least a year — amounted to 96,100, up 32,900 on the previous year. The number of unemployed jobseekers aged over 50 was 120,000, representing an increase of 26,500 on the year before.

The number of unemployed jobseekers aged under 25 was 38,800, representing an increase of 9,100 from February last year. Among unemployed young people, the period of unemployment ended within three months on average in 51.7% of cases between January and February, which is 12.3 percentage points less than the year before.Increase in new vacanciesThe number of new vacancies reported to Employment and Economic Development Offices during February totalled 78,700, or 5,100 more than in February the previous year. In all, the number of unfilled vacancies at Employment and Economic Development Offices in February amounted to 160,600, showing a decrease of 3,900 from last year.At the end of February, the number of persons covered by services included in the activation rate amounted to 115,200, down 4,000 on the previous year. These services include pay subsidies, labour market training, work trials and self-motivated studies.Statistics Finland: Unemployment rate 8.1%According to the Labour Force Survey issued by Statistics Finland, in February the number of people in employment was 6,000 less than on the previous year. The employment rate was 70.0%, which was 0.2 percentage points lower than in February the year before. According to the Survey, the unemployment total was 220,000, which is 35,000 more than a year ago. The unemployment rate was 8.1%, or 1.2 percentage points higher than the previous year.Press release on the revision of the Labour Force Survey: https://www.stat.fi/til/tyti/tyti_2020-12-22_uut_001_en.html

Key differences between Employment Service Statistics and the Labour Force Survey
This 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 of 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.Further information on the differences in the statistics https://tilastokeskus.fi/til/tyti/tyti_2019-09-13_men_001_en.html