Student members and unemployment security
A reasonable amount of work does not delay the degree completion but it can facilitate employment after graduation.
It is common for students to work during their studies in order to gain valuable work experience. Moreover, additional income may also be necessary.
Remember your unemployment security
As members of the unemployment fund, students can accumulate the so-called condition regarding previous employment, which is a prerequisite for being eligible for unemployment allowance. Membership in an unemployment fund can be compared with home insurance — it is a way of securing your future.
Despite the relatively good employment situation in the fields represented by the Association, graduates might have to wait a while (on average, 6 months) before they find a job corresponding to their education. Moreover, due to economic fluctuations, lay-offs can affect people unexpectedly. Therefore, it is wise to fully accumulate the condition regarding previous employment (12 months) already during studies.
To join the unemployment fund, send an e-mail to toimisto[at]agronomiliitto.fi. You must have a job in order to join the unemployment fund.
Members of the Finnish Association of Academic Agronomists belong to the Unemployment Fund for Higher Educated Employees Erko. Through the Association, student members can belong to the unemployment fund by paying the higher membership fee. The membership fee is paid to the account specified by the Association in two instalments; it is not withheld from the salary.
When to join the unemployment fund?
You can join the unemployment fund as soon as you have a job, provided that you are planning to stay in Finland after graduation. Unemployment fund membership is worthwhile, because you can accumulate weeks for the condition regarding previous employment over a long review period. If you find fixed-term employment with a good salary at the final stage of your studies, this will increase your earnings-related allowance sum, because the allowance is calculated on the basis of the latest accumulated salary from the past period of 12 months or longer.
During your studies, you can accumulate the condition regarding previous employment over a period of more than 28 months.
During studies, the normal review period of 28 months can be extended by a maximum of seven years (making a total of a maximum of nine years), because studying is an acceptable reason for being outside the labour market. For this reason, the condition regarding previous employment (12 months) can be fulfilled during studies (e.g., with four summer jobs, 3 + 3 + 3 + 3 months = 12 months). The condition can also be accumulated with work done during semesters; naturally, providing that the student is a member of the unemployment fund throughout this time. The condition regarding previous employment cannot be accumulated retrospectively.
The work needs not be connected to the field of education; any work that meets the following criteria is eligible:
The income-based employment condition accrues for the months for which at least EUR 930 per month is paid.
If the wages have been less than EUR 930 but at least EUR 465, the requirement to work accrues for half a month. The right to earnings-related unemployment allowance can be fulfilled, for example, for 10 whole and four half months.
More info: www.erko.fi
and Guide to Unemployment Fund Benefits