Coronavirus – information and links to talents in Turku region

Currently Finland is in a state of emergency. The coronavirus outbreak in Finland affects our everyday life in many ways. On this page you can find links to helpful information published in English. The page will be updated continuously (update shows on the publication date above).

Please follow the recommendations issued by the Finnish government, the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare and your local authorities carefully.

City of Turku – Latest information and advice

The City of Turku has gathered information regarding the coronavirus. If you suspect that you have caught the coronavirus infection or have other questions on your mind, please find contact information from the City of Turku website:http://www.turku.fi/en/corona

The coronavirus situation in Finland and
guidelines

Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) gathers on their webpage a wide range of information on:

  • The coronavirus situation in Finland, Europe and outside Europe
  • International risk assessment
  • Guidelines for tourists
  • THL guidelines for health care
  • Instructions for workplaces
  • Quarantine and isolation: forms
  • Instructions for citizens
  • Communication materials on the prevention of the coronavirus

https://thl.fi/…/what-s…/coronavirus-covid-19-latest-updates

More reliable information on Health Services in Finland:
https://www.infofinland.fi/en/living-in-finland/health/health-services-in-finland

InfoFinland has information in multiple languages:
https://www.infofinland.fi/en/living-in-finland/problem-situations/coronavirus

Finnish Government

The government website contains information produced by the ministries on the effects of the coronavirus on different administrative sectors as well as topical material on the coronavirus from all ministries:
https://valtioneuvosto.fi/en/information-on-coronavirus

Press release 16 March 2020: https://valtioneuvosto.fi/…/hallitus-totesi-suomen-olevan-p…

Q&A about travelling

The Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland offers a Q&A about travelling and the coronavirus:

ttps://um.fi/…/kysymyksi-c3-a4-ja-vastauksia-matkustamises…

Effects on Kela’s benefits

Kela’s (Kansaneläkelaitos – The Social Insurance Institution of Finland) page contains information about the effects of the coronavirus (COVID-19) on Kela’s benefits, the processing of applications and other services. The page will be updated as the situation develops:

https://www.kela.fi/web/en/corona

Finnish Immigration Service

The Finnish Immigration Service encourages people to use their online service, post or email to send supporting documents. Read more:

https://migri.fi/…/ajankohtaista-koronatilanteesta-voit-hoi…

Information if you are laid off or looking for a new job

The coronavirus brings uncertainties also to the labor market. Turku Business Region is full of international talents who can help companies get back on their feet and out in to the world after the situation starts getting normal.

What to do if you are laid off as a result of the coronavirus – info on TE Services webpage:

http://www.te-palvelut.fi/te/en/information/use_te_services/news/2020-03-17-02/index.html

Jobs in Finland -portal aims to aggregate job openings that don’t require Finnish skills, serving employers in Finland and job seekers in Finland and abroad:

https://jobs.workinfinland.fi/

Talent Explorer funding can be used to hire an expert in order to obtain new information and expertise to help your company make progress in a new international market:

https://www.businessfinland.fi/en/for-finnish-customers/services/funding/explorer/talent-explorer/

Seasonwork: The coronavirus has cut off entry of foreign seasonal workers for Finnish farms. Finnish farms are currently facing a severe shortage of labour for spring and summer seasonal work. Every available pair of hands is needed, in order to secure domestic food on Finnish dinner tables. If you are laid off or without summer job, #Seasonwork may be an option.

https://seasonwork.fi/#/page=1

Changing employer and profession: Third-country nationals residing with a residence permit may change employer and profession without applying for a further permit. The changes in the law will enable the foreigners to work in positions that are important for security of supply and the labor market. The temporary provisions are valid until 31.10.2020.

https://tem.fi/artikkeli/-/asset_publisher/lakimuutokset-kolmansien-maiden-kansalaisten-oikeudesta-tyoskennella-huoltovarmuuden-ja-tyomarkkinoiden-toimivuuden-kannalta-tarkeissa-tehtavissa-voim

Processing of ordinary visa and residence permit applications

Owing to the coronavirus outbreak, Finland, in line with the rest of the Schengen countries, has suspended the reception of normal visa applications in Finland’s missions with immediate effect from 19 March until further notice. Read more from Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland webpage:

https://um.fi/current-affairs/-/asset_publisher/gc654PySnjTX/content/suomi-keskeytt-c3-a4-c3-a4-tavanomaisen-viisumi-ja-oleskelulupahakemusten-vastaanoton-ja-k-c3-a4sittelyn

Worker mobility and relocation

Finland still needs a lot of talent, but the current situation has brought up many questions related worker mobility. Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment has gathered answers to the most common questions:

https://tem.fi/en/questions-and-aswers-corona-and-worker-mobility

Employers and employees have had to change their plans on very short notice due to boarders been closed to control the spread of COVID-19 pandemic. Barona has gathered an Q&A related to relocation:

https://www.baronarelocation.com/blog/relocation-related-questions-answers-during-the-covid-19-pandemic

Working Remotely

Closing borders as measures to control the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic has caused uncertainty in many ways. Physical relocation is currently impossible, however there are ways the planned employment can start as scheduled.

Click to a blog post related to remote work

Information for companies and entrepreneurs

Coronavirus brings uncertainty especially to entrepreneurs and smaller companies. What should be done in the workplace? Do I have the right to lower employee’s salaries? How about taxation and financing? Where can I get financial support? Below you can find links to help you find answers to these and many more questions:

How does an entrepreneur apply for labour market support?

The Government proposes that because of the coronavirus epidemic entrepreneurs would be entitled to labour market support. The Act enters into force on 8 April 2020. More information and how to apply:
https://tem.fi/en/article/-/asset_publisher/laki-yrittajien-oikeudesta-tyottomyysturvaan-tulee-voimaan-8-4-2020

Latest news

Yle, lates news: https://yle.fi/…/coronavirus_latest_241_cases_conf…/11249610

InfoFinland provides up to date information on their social media channels:https://www.facebook.com/infofinland.fi/