Membership in the unemployment fund is worthwhile, because the earnings-related benefit for someone who becomes unemployed after full-time employment is significantly higher than the fixed-rate basic unemployment allowance or labor market subsidy paid by Kela!

Cross-Border Workers and Job Seeking in EU Countries

What does “cross-border worker” mean?

You are considered a cross-border worker if you work in an EU country other than the one in which you live.

Which country pays the unemployment benefit?

If you work part-time, the unemployment benefit is paid by the institution of the country where you work.
If you are completely unemployed, the unemployment benefit is paid by the institution of your country of residence.

To receive unemployment benefits, you must register as a job seeker in the country that is responsible for paying your unemployment benefits.

Job seeking in EU countries

After you have been registered as an unemployed jobseeker and have been participating in employment services for at least four weeks, you may go to another EU country to look for work for up to three months.

During your job search abroad, the unemployment fund can continue to pay you the earnings-related daily allowance in the same way as if you were staying in Finland.

Conditions:

You must inform the employment authorities in advance about your job search trip abroad. They will provide a statement to your unemployment fund.
You must register with the local employment authority in the destination country within seven days of your departure.

For more information about working and job seeking abroad, visit: LINKIT ja värit

Työmarkkinatori (Job Market Finland)

Working abroad and job-seeking in the EU (TYJ)