NordenBladet — On 25 November, the Ministerial Working Group on Health and Social Services discussed the COVID-19 situation in Finland and the restrictions in place. The Ministerial Working Group proposes tighter restrictions on food and beverage service businesses. The Government will decide on the matter as soon as possible.The Ministerial Working Group decided to propose that the tighter restrictions be introduced in areas in the community transmission phase:Serving of alcoholic beverages in all food and beverage service businesses would end at 17.00. Such businesses could keep their premises open to food and beverage service customers from 05.00 to 18.00.All restaurants using the COVID-19 passport would be exempt from the restrictions. Food and beverage service businesses that do not serve alcoholic beverages could be open from 05.00 to 01.00 without the use of the COVID-19 passport.The restrictions would enter into force on Sunday 28 November at 00.00. Restaurants serving alcoholic beverages would be allowed to operate normally from 17.00 only by using the COVID-19 passport. However, fast food restaurants and cafés could be open without the COVID-19 passport, as they are now.
NordenBladet — With a view to the need to enhance the population’s vaccination coverage in line with the epidemiological situation in autumn 2021, Finland’s COVID-19 vaccination strategy will be updated. Vaccines are the most effective way to protect the population from the COVID-19 disease and to curb the coronavirus epidemic. Vaccines are available free of charge to all those who want them and who have no health-related impediment to being vaccinated.In its plenary session on 25 November 2021, the Government adopted a Government resolution on a vaccination strategy. The strategy outlines the main principles of vaccination, and it is based on medical science and research evidence. In line with the Government’s hybrid strategy to manage the COVID-19 epidemic, vaccinations can keep society open and make it possible to engage in different activities in society. Vaccination also reduces the number of COVID-19 cases and ensures that the capacity and availability of healthcare services remains adequate.The high incidence of COVID-19 cases among those who have not yet been vaccinated also means that there is a mounting risk of those who have been vaccinated to fall ill, and vaccination coverage in Finland is currently not high enough to curb the spread of the epidemic. The vaccination coverage also varies between regions and population groups.Updated objectives for the vaccination strategyTo increase vaccination coverage and achieve the objectives, we mustincrease the percentage of people who have received two vaccine doses in the population by focusing effective measures especially on those population groups and areas where shortcomings have been identified in the vaccination coveragestrengthen the vaccination coverage of the population by enhancing the provision of a third round of vaccine dosesprepare for vaccination of children under the age of 12assess and, if necessary, prepare legislative amendments to ensure patient safety.The vaccination strategy is temporary and in force until 30 June 2022. The strategy will be updated in spring 2022 when new monitoring data on the epidemiological situation, vaccination coverage and the effects of vaccinations become available.EU’s contribution to global vaccine solidarityTo curb the pandemic and to ensure the health security of the EU itself, it is important that all countries receive vaccines as soon as they are available. Finland is taking part in donating vaccines acquired by the EU to third countries, particularly through the COVAX Facility.
NordenBladet — A voter’s polling station in county elections is determined based on the voter’s place of residence. The voting register for the 2022 county elections to be held in January will be compiled based on the information contained in the Population Information System on 3 December 2021.A voter’s place of residence determines the wellbeing services county in which the voter is entitled to vote and the election day polling station. Each wellbeing services county has its own candidates, and voters can only vote for the candidates standing for election in their wellbeing services county. On election day, 23 January 2022, voters may only vote at the polling station mentioned in the notice of right to vote sent to them. During the advance voting period, voters may freely choose any polling station.If an eligible voter moves after 3 December, the electoral district and the election day polling station are determined based on their previous place of residence.Notices of right to vote will be sent by post or via Suomi.fi serviceA notice of right to vote (polling card) will be sent to all eligible voters in December. The notice will be sent in electronic format to those eligible voters who have activated the Suomi.fi Messages service and given their consent for all official notifications to be sent to them electronically. In the 2021 municipal elections, an electronic notice of right to vote was sent to approximately 580,000 eligible voters.Information about county elections and voting: www.electionsfinland.fiGeneral advance polling stations in county elections
NordenBladet — The Government proposes that Parliament approve the revised Council of Europe Convention on Cinematographic Co-Production of 30 January 2017. The Convention aims to promote and facilitate the development of cinematographic co-production between the parties by establishing rules applicable to co-productions.The Council of Europe Convention on Cinematographic Co-Production (CEPS), drawn up by the Council of Europe in 1992, entered into force internationally on 1 April 1994. The Convention governs the relations between the parties to the Convention in the field of multilateral co-productions originating in the territory of the parties. The Convention contains provisions on matters such as the financial contributions of cinematographic productions and benefits granted to them. The Convention was revised on 30 January 2017, and the revised Convention entered into force internationally on 1 October 2017. It contains provisions on the conditions for obtaining co-production status, the financial contributions of co-producers, the rights of co-producers to the cinematographic works, and financial co-productions. The Convention aims to promote and facilitate the development of cinematographic co-production between the parties by establishing rules applicable to co-productions. Finland signed the Convention in Brussels on 18 November 2020. The application of the Convention requires not only the signing of the Convention but also its national implementation. The Government’s objective is to adopt the revised Convention as soon as possible in 2022 after Parliament has endorsed it and the related legislative proposal and after the Parliament of the Åland has given its consent. The government proposal is published on the Government webpages at https://valtioneuvosto.fi/paatokset/istunnot (in Finnish).
NordenBladet — The Ministry for Foreign Affairs has issued a Decree on the Amendment of Fees for Services Produced by the Foreign Service for 2020–2022. The amendment will enter into force on 1 January 2022 and will remain in force until 31 December 2022.The amendment to the decree changes the fees for passports and identity cards issued by the Ministry for Foreign Affairs and Finnish missions abroad. Fees for passports issued to veterans of the Finnish wars will remain unchanged.The fee for an identity card will rise by six euros starting on 1 January 2022 The change is based on the EU’s ID Regulation.The increases in the fees for identity cards are based on supplementary amendments made to the Identity Card Act so that it is in line with the EU Regulation on identity cards. The applicant’s facial image and fingerprints will be stored on the chip of the identity card. The additional expenditure caused by the amendments are part of the chargeable services provided by the Foreign Service and, in accordance with the Act on Criteria for Charges Payable to the State (150/1992), must be covered fully by fees charged for issuance of permits. The fee for a passport will rise by 35 euros starting on 1 January 2022 The price of a passport will rise by EUR 35, with the exception of passports issued to veterans of the Finnish wars. Since 2014, a passport issued by a mission abroad has cost EUR 140. The current fee for a passport no longer corresponds to its cost price. Under the law, the amount of the fee to be charged must correspond to the total cost incurred by the State in providing the service. Passport fees will be increased to improve cost-effectiveness. The proposal to increase the price of passports was adjusted after a consultation round, and the new fees are lower than the cost price of the passport under section 6, subsection 3 of the Act on Criteria for Charges Payable to the State.
NordenBladet — On Thursday 25 November, the Government adopted a decision on the 2022 plan for analysis, assessment and research in support of its decision-making.The objective of the Government plan for analysis, assessment and research in support of decision-making is to ensure that there is a strong and horizontal knowledge base to support decision-making in society. The plan guides analysis, assessment and research activities towards key priority areas that will help to implement the Programme of Prime Minister Marin’s Government.The information needs detailed in the plan have been identified in the ministries, and some information needs have been specified in more detail through open co-creation.The plan consists of the following eight main elements and the analysis, assessment and research themes selected for them, along with reservations for other information needs to be specified later:Finland as a sustainable economyCarbon neutral Finland that protects biodiversity; housing policyGlobally influential FinlandSafe and secure Finland built on the rule of law – its development and defence policyDynamic and thriving Finland, transport networks and agricultureFinland built on trust and labour market equalityFair, equal and inclusive FinlandFinland that promotes competence, education, culture and innovationGovernanceOther information needsThe Prime Minister’s Office and the designated ministries for the different themes are responsible for implementing the plan in collaboration with the Government working group for the coordination of research, foresight and assessment activities. An appropriation of EUR 9 million will be allocated for the implementation of the plan. The plan addresses the priority areas and topics for analysis, assessment and research and includes financial estimates and divisions of responsibilities for preparation and guidance.The studies and research projects will be put out to open tender. Relevance, usability, project quality, expertise of the project implementers, adequacy of resources, communications and information management are used as the selection criteria for commissioned studies and projects. The application period will open on 30 November 2021, and this will be announced later.
NordenBladet — In its session on 25 November 2021, the Government appointed Counsellor for Foreign Affairs Jukka Salovaara to serve as Permanent State Secretary at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs starting on 1 May 2022.The position is a fixed-term appointment ending on 31 August 2026. In the same session, the Government appointed the Ministry’s current Permanent State Secretary Matti Anttonen to continue in his duties until 30 April 2022.
NordenBladet — The reform aims to provide jobseekers and employers with digital services that will meet their needs better and that will ease the use of services. The overall reform includes a new service platform to promote the matching of jobs with workers and to improve job search and employment services.The Government submitted a proposal to Parliament on 25 November 2021 to enable the introduction of a new digital service platform in TE services.“Easy-to-use digital services are part of the modern world. Job search today requires digital services that function well. This reform will improve services for jobseekers and employers. We will also be able to better respond to the mismatch between available jobs and available workers. With the help of artificial intelligence, they can find each other more easily,” says Minister of Employment Tuula Haatainen.New digital services to help matching of jobseekers with jobs The new digital TE services would gradually replace the current online services for customers and experts and the customer information system of TE Offices. The services for personal and business customers and experts would become available on the Job Market service platform.The Job Market platform would utilise artificial intelligence to enable jobseekers and employers to find each other faster and better. A new feature on the Job Market platform would allow jobseekers to create and publish job search profiles. New digital services to be phased in from May 2022The reform also aims to clarify and update the regulation on the processing of customer data in public employment and business services. The proposal contains provisions on the processing of data on job search profiles and the retrieval of data on published job search profiles as well as reviews of the roles of operators involved in the processing of personal data. The proposed laws are scheduled to enter into force on 2 May 2022. The new digital services will be introduced in stages. The Job Market service will be launched in May 2022. In other respects, the new services for customers and experts will be introduced from autumn 2022 onwards. The new information system services would be fully in place by the end of 2023.The test version of the Job Market service platform is already in use.
NordenBladet — Finland and Kenya are cooperating to reduce violence against women and girls in Kenya, where gender-based violence has increased during the COVID-19 pandemic. With Finland’s support, Kenya also aims to increase the number of women in leadership positions.A bilateral project to prevent gender-based violence and to support action to tackle the problem has been launched. The project will strengthen the ability of the authorities to help survivors of violence and increase knowledge and awareness of gender-based violence. Kenya’s goal is to end gender-based violence and female genital mutilation (FGM) by 2026.“The project is highly topical as gender-based violence has increased considerably during the COVID-19 pandemic. Expertise provided by Finland in addressing the issue, and our bilateral cooperation with Kenya could help to reverse this trend,” says Pirkka Tapiola, Ambassador of Finland in Nairobi.The project will be implemented in three counties. In the counties, the problems relate to harmful cultural practices and FGM in Samburu, poverty and unwanted or unplanned pregnancies among young people in Kilifi, and high rape statistics in Bungoma. The project has the potential to expand to other counties as well. Finland has appointed a consultant to the project on a long-term assignment starting at the end of September 2021. Kenya has budgeted EUR 1 million for the project, while Finland’s contribution amounts to EUR 5 million. Furthermore, Finland will partner with a civil society organisation (CSO) to complement the preventive efforts of the authorities in the counties. The planned support for this is EUR 2 million.In addition, Finland and UN Women support Kenyan women to reach leadership positions in the public administration. For example, female candidates are being trained for next year’s general elections. Female politicians and women’s organisations are supported in their efforts to improve legislation and political party practices. Violence against women is also a problem in connection with elections, which is why eradicating it would promote political participation.Gender-based violence has far-reaching consequences, Finland invests in efforts to tackle the problem through development cooperationStructural discrimination and harmful gendered norms are the root causes of gender-based violence. Gender-based violence is a serious human rights violation with extensive and long-term impacts on both individuals and society. In the European Union, it is estimated that in addition to human suffering and health impacts, the economic cost of gender-based violence amounts to EUR 228 billion per year.Action to combat violence against women and girls is a central part of Finland’s development cooperation, and Finland is a strong supporter of the UN Population Fund UNFPA. UNFPA works to eradicate gender-based violence and harmful practices such as FGM and child marriage. In 2021, Finland’s support to UNFPA is EUR 33 million.Furthermore, Finland works in close cooperation with various CSOs in this area. CSOs are often present in areas where other actors are not, such as grassroots level local communities and least developed countries (LDCs) in which Finland does not have other activities. For example, CSOs have used comprehensive and quality sex education to prevent unwanted or unplanned pregnancies.This news item will be published on 25 November, designated by the United Nations as the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. The purpose of the day is to pay attention to violence against women and to support the elimination of violence.
NordenBladet — The social security agreement between Finland and Japan will enter into force on 1 February 2022. Ville Skinnari, Minister for Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade, and Takashi Murata, Japan’s Ambassador to Finland, exchanged notes on 25 November to bring the bilateral agreement into force. When the agreement enters into force, workers posted to a Contracting State will avoid double pension and unemployment insurance contributions.The social security agreement will affect the social security, and particularly pension security, of people who move or have moved between Finland and Japan. The agreement lays down provisions on the payment of Finnish earnings-related pensions and Japanese pensions to people residing in the territory of the other Contracting State. In addition, the agreement includes provisions on the legislation applicable to pension and unemployment insurance.
The social security agreement will offer relief for Finnish businesses operating in Japan. Workers posted to Japan will be subject to the laws of Finland, which makes it possible to avoid double pension insurance contributions. People who have returned or moved to Finland from Japan will benefit from the agreement. They may be entitled to Japanese pension, even if they were not covered by the Japanese pension system long enough to receive pension under the Japanese law. “The agreement will improve the status and social security of people who have moved between Finland and Japan. Inter-authority collaboration based on the agreement will make applying for an earnings-related pension easier,” says Minister of Social Affairs and Health Hanna Sarkkinen.“The social security agreement between Finland and Japan will make it easier for Finnish business representatives to work in Japan and Japanese business representatives to work in Finland. The agreement is an important step in strengthening bilateral relations and improving the operating conditions for businesses. It will also make Finland a more attractive investment environment for Japanese businesses,” says Minister for Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Ville Skinnari.The Finnish Parliament approved the social security agreement in May 2021. The agreement’s entry into force requires that an official exchange of notes takes place between Finland and Japan. By an exchange of notes, the Contracting States, Finland and Japan, notify each other that the agreement can enter into force by the agreed date. The social security agreement will enter into force on the first day of the third month after the Contracting States have exchanged diplomatic notes, namely on 1 February 2022. Separate provisions on the entry into force of the agreement will be laid down by government decree.Webinar on social security agreement to be held in JanuaryThe Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, the Embassy of Finland in Tokyo and the Finnish Centre for Pensions will organise a webinar on the social security agreement on 21 January 2022. At the webinar, experts from the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health and the Finnish Centre for Pensions will tell more about the content and effects of the agreement. More information about the webinar and the link to the registration are available on the website of the Finnish Centre for Pensions link to the website.Information on the webinar (in Finnish)