Määräaikaisten

Määräaikaisten refers to employees hired under a määräaikainen työsopimus, a fixed-term employment contract. The contract has a defined start and end date or is tied to the completion of a specific task. Compared to permanent employees, fixed-term workers do not have an open-ended commitment from the employer, and their employment ends when the agreed term ends or the task is finished.

Fixed-term contracts are commonly used for temporary substitution, seasonal or peak-period work, project-based assignments, or training and trial periods. They are regulated by national labor laws and, in many countries, by additional collective agreements. The rules specify when fixed-term contracts may be used, how they can be renewed, and the circumstances under which a contract should be considered permanent.

Rights and protections for määräaikaiset generally align with those for permanent employees who perform the same work. This includes pay according to applicable collective agreements, holiday rights, and access to social security benefits. However, the use of fixed-term contracts is typically subject to limits designed to prevent the regular replacement of permanent staff with fixed-term workers. After a long period of fixed-term employment or after several renewals within a given timeframe, employers may be required to offer a permanent contract unless there is a justified reason to continue the fixed term.

Impact and practice vary by country and sector. Fixed-term work provides flexibility for employers to manage short-term needs and for workers to gain experience or transition between roles, but it can also mean less job security relative to permanent positions. Ongoing reforms in labor law aim to balance flexibility with protections for workers.