Employers told to pay wages, if drone threat prevents workers from work

The government and the social partners prepared a joint recommendation for workplaces, particularly about the payment of the employees, if they are prevented from work due to drone threats, said the government in a press release on Friday.

The recommendation prepared by the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment, the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health and the Ministry of the Interior together with the social partners told employers to pay wages to employees.

“Despite the fact that the social partners interpret the current labour legislation and the obligation to pay wages differently, they recommend that, in order to strengthen comprehensive security, employers pay wages to employees and public officials in situations referred to in the recommendations when the person is prevented from performing their work due to an emergency warning issued by the authorities due to a drone threat,” said the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment in the press release.

Each workplace should find the means to minimise the risks to the health and safety of employees and to reduce the harm to employers.

Instructions and practices related to drones must be discussed at workplaces in advance. The recommendations contain examples of matters that employers and employees should address.

During drone threats, occupational accidents are assessed according to the Occupational Accidents, Injuries and Diseases Act, as usual.

The social partners and the government continue to monitor the situation related to drone threats and are prepared for changes in the situational picture. The recommendations may be updated as necessary.

In case the situation picture changes or drone threats become more common, thereby resulting in substantial payroll costs for employers, the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment will carry out a study on how these costs could be equalised. The starting point of the study is that the equalisation model does not generate any costs to general government or employees.

The Confederation of Unions for Professional and Managerial Staff in Finland Akava, the Confederation of Finnish Industries EK, the Commission for Church Employers, the Local Government and County Employers KT, the Central Organisation of Finnish Trade Unions SAK, the Federation of Finnish Enterprises, the Finnish Confederation of Professionals STTK and the Office for the Government as Employer were among others participated in preparation of the joint recommendation.

“Fortunately, emergencies are quite rare. However, when they do occur, workplaces must have crystal clear procedures on how to act. To me, it is particularly important that employees are paid their wages during these situations. Nobody should endanger their personal safety due to uncertainty about whether they will get paid. It is important to have comprehensive instructions on how workplaces should operate during emergencies and a clear recommendation on payment of wages,” said Minister of Employment Matias Marttinen in the press release.

On 15 May, the rescue authorities issued an emergency warning affecting the Uusimaa region, in which people were clearly instructed to stay indoors.

On May 21, the Trade Union for the Public and Welfare Sectors-JHL demanded that employees should get paid, if they stay home following instructions by the authority due to drone threat.