Under the Accident Insurance Act, employers in Finland must take out accident insurance for their employees from the start of their work. The Posted Workers Act contains no provisions on the application of the Accident Insurance Act; liability to take out insurance thus depends on the country from which the posted worker is posted to Finland.

EU/EEA Member States

Social security for persons relocating from one EU/EEA Member State to another is governed by EU social security legislation (Social Security Regulation 883/2004).

An employee posted by the employer to work in another Member State on his own account shall remain subject to the legislation of the country of origin if the estimated duration of the employee’s work is no more than 24 months and if the employee is not posted to replace another employee. In such a case, an A1 certificate may be issued to the employee. If the estimated duration of employment of a posted worker posted from another EU Member State to Finland is more than 24 months, Finnish legislation will apply to that posted worker from the beginning of the work.

With regard to EEA Member States, the estimated duration of employment for the purpose of the above determination shall be no more than 12 months, in which case an E101 certificate may be issued to the employee. If the estimated duration of employment is more than 12 months, Finnish legislation will apply to that posted worker from the beginning of the work.

Social security agreements and third countries

Finland has entered into bilateral social security agreements that are relevant for the social security of persons relocating between Finland and these partner countries. Finland has a bilateral social security agreement with Australia, Chile, Israel, Canada, Québec and the USA.

The bilateral social security agreements entered into by Finland with countries outside the EU may contain provisions as to how a posted worker’s status is determined. For further information on bilateral social security agreements, visit the website of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health: Social security internationally.

Not all bilateral social security agreements cover the same employee benefits. For instance, the agreements with Canada and the USA do not require mandatory accident insurance. For posted workers from these countries, accident insurance must be taken out separately in Finland.

Posted worker’s A1 or E101 certificate

For posted workers from countries with which Finland has not entered into a social security agreement (e.g. Russia, countries in Asia and most countries in South America), the national legislation of both the country of origin and of Finland apply.

A posted worker coming from an EU or EEA Member State who has a valid posted worker’s certificate (an A1 or E101 certificate) does not need to have accident insurance taken out in Finland. This certificate must be based on the posted worker being sent to Finland by an employer regularly operating in its country of domicile. If there is no such certificate, then the posted worker falls under Finland’s social security legislation, and the employer must take out accident insurance for him/her.

For posted workers from a third country (not an EU or EEA Member State), accident insurance must be taken out in Finland.