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!

Waiting Period

Once the employment condition has been met, a waiting period is set before you can receive unemployment allowance.
The waiting period begins after the periodization of the holiday compensation.
A waiting period is always applied each time your employment condition is fulfilled.
If you work part-time and apply for adjusted unemployment allowance, the waiting period is calculated as the equivalent of seven (7) full unemployed weekdays.
If you participate in employment-promoting services organized by the employment authorities during the waiting period, you are entitled to receive unemployment allowance also for the waiting period.
Once the waiting period has passed, unemployment allowance can be paid to you, provided there are no other disqualifying factors.

The waiting period corresponds to seven (7) full unemployed weekdays and must be completed within eight consecutive calendar weeks.