Two new flash reports prepared by the European Social Policy Network (ESPN) are now available and cover recent social policy developments in Finland: new forms of unemployment protection for the self-employed and the problems that the Finnish government’s social and healthcare reform is facing.

Unemployment protection for the self-employed

The Finnish Ministry of Social Affairs and Health is currently preparing a bill to improve insurance coverage for people who are combining self-employment with paid employment, or moving between both statuses.

The bill is based on the proposal for a new “combinatory unemployment insurance” that was submitted end 2016 by an expert group nominated by the Minister of Labour.

In spring 2018, the government will probably decide on the bill when the financing of the scheme is accepted.

Flash Report - Finland: New forms of unemployment protection for the self-employed 

Social and healthcare reform

In Finland, the largest-ever government proposal to reform social and healthcare (SOTE) is facing problems in Parliament.

The reform proposes 18 new administrative domains (counties) which will be responsible for SOTE-services previously run by the municipalities.

The proposal is also being undermined in advance by municipalities outsourcing their services to private providers.

Flash Report - Finland: The government’s social and healthcare reform is facing problems