Finland to get EGF aid for re-employing sacked Finnair staff

Finland will get European Globalisation Adjustment Fund (EGF) to promote re-employment of the redundant staff of the national flag carrier Finnair, said the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment in a press release on Friday.

Finland applied for aid from the EGF in December due to redundancies announced by Finnair and got advised from the European Commission in this regard on Thursday.

“The European Commission advised us today (Thursday) that we will receive the requested aid. The EGF aid will also enable customised services for former staff members who are not among the first to secure new employment for various reasons,” said Minister of Labour Tuula Haatainen.

Finland submitted its application to the European Commission on 30 December 2020. The application concerns a total of about 500 former employees who lost their jobs at Finnair and related companies.

The funding was requested for services to promote re-employment. The total estimated budget for the project is approximately three million euros, including a national contribution of 40 per cent.

The project will be implemented in the Uusimaa region of southern Finland.

The European Parliament and the Council have yet to approve the Commission’s proposals.