tuntityö

Tuntityö is a Finnish term that literally translates to "hour work" and refers to employment compensated on a per‑hour basis. It is typically used for temporary assignments, freelance projects, or part‑time job contracts in which workers are paid for the actual hours they work rather than a fixed salary. Tuntityö arrangements are common in industries such as childcare, retail, cleaning, and hospitality, as well as in professional services like consulting, translation, and software development.

In Finland, tuntityö is governed by the Employment Contracts Act and the Employment Protection Act, but the protections afforded are generally less extensive than for full‑time, permanent employees. Workers hired at an hourly rate are considered independent contract workers (itsenäiset tehtävät) if they lack the security of continuous employment and are free to choose clients. For those receiving scheduled employer‑provided shifts, the employment is still subject to standard labor rights, including paid leave and pension contributions, as long as the contract duration exceeds 10 weeks per calendar year.

Tuntityö is closely related to the broader concept of freelancing, with the primary distinction that freelance work is often project‑based and may span multiple clients, whereas tuntityö is usually confined to a single employer for a defined period. It also differs from part‑time employment, which generally involves a fixed weekly hour commitment and a more stable employment relationship. The rise of the gig economy has increased the prevalence of tuntityö, prompting ongoing discussions about worker rights, tax treatment, and social security contributions for hourly and freelance workers.