Foreign seasonal workers to get infectious disease aid

The national social insurance institution- Kela may grant infectious disease allowance to seasonal workers who have come to Finland from abroad under certain conditions, said Kela in a press release on Monday.

Persons who are not citizens of an European Union (EU) or European Economic Area (EEA) country or Switzerland must have health insurance coverage in Finland to qualify for the infectious disease allowance.

Non-EU seasonal workers can get health insurance coverage in Finland, if they earn at least 741.75 euros per month (as of 2022). Workers can get health insurance coverage from the date they start working.

Citizens of an EU or EEA country or Switzerland who are employed in Finland may receive infectious disease allowance even if they are not covered by health insurance in Finland.

When a worker applies for the infectious disease allowance, Kela checks whether he or she is covered by the Finnish health insurance system.

That requires the worker to file a notification of moving to Finland. In order for Kela to reach the applicant, the applicant's full contact information must be included on the form.

A decision by the doctor in charge of infectious disease in the applicant’s municipality or hospital district, ordering the applicant to stay off work or to be placed in quarantine or isolation is required to make the application.

A certificate from a doctor, nurse or public health nurse showing that a COVID-19 infection has been reliably detected and recommending the applicant to stay away from work to avoid spreading the infection, a loss-of-earnings notification and notification of wages paid, provided by the applicant's employer, and a notification that the applicant has moved to Finland and a tax card are also required.

The infectious disease allowance is paid to the bank account specified by the applicant, provided it is with a bank operating in the EU. If not, the allowance is deposited to a prepaid card.

The allowance can be paid to the employer as compensation for the salary paid to the employee during the absence from work.

However, the allowance is paid to the applicant only, if he or she is covered under the Finnish health insurance system.

Seasonal workers entering Finland must be vaccinated as specified in the instructions of the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL).