ansiotyötä

Ansiotyö refers to paid work carried out in exchange for wages or salary within an employer–employee relationship. In Finnish usage, it encompasses the standard form of paid employment where a worker performs tasks under the employer’s direction and receives compensation, typically accompanied by social protections and tax withholdings. The concept is central to Finland’s labor market and is described in everyday language as well as in statutory texts.

A typical ansiotyö arrangement involves a contract or agreement detailing duties, working hours, pay, and duration, along with the employer’s instruction and control over how the work is performed. Wages are paid by the employer and are subject to income tax and social insurance contributions. Employees generally have access to employment benefits such as paid holidays, sick leave, and pension coverage through statutory systems and, in many cases, collective agreements.

Legal regulation in Finland is shaped by several instruments. The Employment Contracts Act governs how contracts are formed and terminated; the Working Hours Act regulates maximum hours, rest periods, and overtime; and the Annual Holidays Act covers paid holidays. Many details are further defined by sectoral or company-level collective agreements.

Forms of ansiotyö include full-time, part-time, fixed-term, and seasonal positions. Self-employment, freelancing, or entrepreneurial activities fall outside ansiotyö and are governed by different rules.

In the Nordic welfare model, ansiotyö is the primary pathway to income and social protection for most adults, with unemployment protection often linked to prior paid employment.