SAK and STTK open helpline for summer workers

The Central Organisation of Finnish Trade Unions - SAK and the Finnish Confederation of Professionals - STTK have opened a free telephone advisory service for summer workers. This service will continue from the start of May to the middle of August, offering advice to anyone calling the Finnish toll-free number 0800 179 279. This number is only available within Finland.

The summer job helpline is open from 09.00 to 15.00 on Mondays to Fridays. The service is available in English, Finnish and Swedish.

In addition to the telephone service, SAK and STTK are also advising summer workers through a Finnish language web page at www.kesaduunari.fi and a Swedish language page at www.sak.fi/sommarjobbare. These pages include a checklist of things to remember when taking a summer job and a form for requesting more detailed expert advice from SAK, STTK and the trade unions.

The summer job helpline and web service were first launched in 2005 by SAK. Last summer these services handled several hundred enquiries concerning terms and conditions of employment.

- Summer jobs are often in small workplaces with no shop steward to assist when problems arise. Through the summer job helpline we can advise anyone in need of guidance regarding the rights and duties of employees. There is no need to be a union member or to work in a field that is organised by an SAK trade union, and the helpline will also respond to anonymous callers. Aside from the young adults that often work in summer jobs, we have also responded to queries from their parents, explains SAK official Anita Spring.

Anita Spring is convinced that there is a clear need for the summer job advisory service. In too many cases it comes to light that young people have not been properly paid or that holiday compensation and bonuses have been withheld. Most of the queries received in summer 2009 concerned pay, working hours and various bonuses. Questions also arose over concluding employment contracts.

- Written employment contracts are often not made automatically in smaller workplaces. The helpline always recommends making the employment contract in writing, Spring explains.

The summer job helpline number is 0800 179 279.
The helpline is open daily, Monday to Friday from 09.00 to 15.00.