työttömyyskassassa

Työttömyyskassa is a Finnish term for an unemployment fund, a membership-based nonprofit organization that administers earnings-related unemployment allowances for its members. In Finland, the unemployment security system comprises earnings-related benefits paid by the funds and a basic unemployment allowance paid by Kela; the funds operate under the unemployment insurance act as independent entities, often organized around sectors or occupations.

Each työttömyyskassa serves its members and collects contributions from both employees and employers. Membership is typically voluntary, but receiving earnings-related unemployment allowance requires joining a fund that covers the member’s employment field. To be eligible for the earnings-related allowance, a member must have earned a sufficient amount of income in a required period and must be unemployed and actively seeking work.

When a member becomes unemployed, they apply for benefits through their fund, which assesses eligibility and determines the daily allowance based on previous earnings and statutory limits. The fund pays the benefit to the member, and payments are generally taxable. The process may involve reporting on job-search activities and meeting certain conditions set by the fund and the authorities.

Basic unemployment allowance is administered by Kela and is available to those who do not qualify for earnings-related benefits or who are not members of a fund. In addition to financial support, many työttömyyskassat offer services such as career guidance and job-search assistance to their members. The system is regulated by Finnish law and supervised to ensure proper administration of benefits and member rights.