vuokratyö

Vuokratyö, or temporary agency work, is a form of employment in which a worker is employed by a staffing or recruitment agency and assigned to perform work for a client company. The worker signs an employment contract with the agency, while the client company determines the tasks, work tasks, and daily schedule at the site. The agency handles recruitment, payroll, and statutory obligations, and charges the client a fee for the assignment. Assignments can be short or longer in duration and are commonly used to cover seasonal peaks, project work, or temporary absences.

In practice, the arrangement involves three parties: the agency (the employer), the client company (the user of the worker), and the worker. The client provides the work assignment and supervises day-to-day tasks, while the agency takes responsibility for wages, benefits, and compliance with employment law. The worker typically continues to be employed by the agency during the assignment and may be placed at multiple client sites over time, depending on demand and skills.

The legal framework in Finland regulates vuokratyö under national labor law and applicable collective agreements. Temporary workers have the core rights afforded to other employees, including pay according to the relevant agreement, working hours, safety protections, and access to training. The aim is to ensure fair treatment and prevent labor market segmentation, with supervision and compliance carried out by both the agency and the client company.

Vuokratyö serves as a flexible staffing solution for employers seeking to adjust capacity quickly and for workers seeking entry points into the labor market or varied experience. It is common across sectors such as logistics, manufacturing, and administrative services, though it also faces criticism regarding job security, career progression, and wage progression.