The Finnish government has proposed a continuation of the emergency laws on unemployment security until the autumn. The previous continuations was until the summer. From the point of view of the YTK Unemployment Fund, the continuation of the emergency laws will ease the position of the benefit applicant and make its implementation smoother.

Because of the coronavirus epidemic, unemployment and layoffs still affect many. That is why it's justified to continue the emergency laws until the autumn. We wish that along with the summer, unemployment would subside. At the moment, the emergency laws will end in the middle of the summer, which would be challenging in regards to the processing of daily allowance applications, as this would require system changes and extensive training through various substitute arrangements.

The Finnish Parliament has not yet approved the legislative amendments. The law on exceptions is to become valid as soon as possible.

During the emergency measures, the exempt amount of unemployment security has been increased to EUR 500 per month. The exception is currently valid until 30 June 2021.

The Finnish Government has proposed that the increased exempt amount would be applied until the autumn. If the proposal is accepted in the Finnish Parliament, we can use the increased exempt amount, when the application period starts no later than 30 September 2021. After that, i.e. in the application periods beginning on 1 October 2021 and after, the exempt amount would return to EUR 300.

You can receive mobility allowance for full-time work started as an unemployed person on the basis of a commute of more than two hours when the employment relationship starts no later than 30 June 2021. According to the current proposal, this would be extended until 30 September 2021.

If the proposal is approved, the commute requirement for mobility allowance is three hours in full-time work, if the employment relationship starts on or after 1 October 2021.

In certain circumstances, we may pay earnings-related daily allowance before issuing a decision. Temporarily, we have been able to pay earnings-related daily allowance for a maximum of six months as an advance. This possibility has been proposed to be extended until 30 September 2021. Therefore, we can apply a longer advance payment if the first day of the application is before 1 October 2021.

If the proposal is accepted, we will return to use the specific adjustment period again in the application periods beginning on or after 1 October 2021.