Is May Day a paid holiday?
May Day, also known as Labor Day, is an official holiday in Finland and falls on May 1. This day is significant for many Finns, as it celebrates the arrival of spring and the achievements of the labor movement. But is May Day a paid holiday? Let’s take a closer look.
May Day and Working Time Act
In Finland, May Day is defined as an official holiday in the Working Hours Act. This means that in most industries, workers are entitled to a day off without their pay being reduced. According to the Working Hours Act, the employer must pay the employee the normal salary also for holidays, such as May Day, if it falls on a weekday.
Collective agreements and May Day
In many fields, collective agreements (TES) define more precisely how May Day is treated. In most collective agreements, May Day is a paid holiday, and employees are entitled to be paid even if they do not work on that day. However, in some sectors, such as healthcare and the restaurant industry, employees may have to work on May Day. In this case, they are usually paid an increased wage, which can be, for example, 100% or 200% of the normal hourly wage.
Exceptions and special situations
However, there are some exceptions where May Day is not necessarily a paid holiday. For example, for part-time employees and fixed-term employees, the situation may vary depending on their employment contract and collective agreement. In addition, if May Day falls on a weekend, employees may not be entitled to an extra day off or pay.
Summary
Generally speaking, May Day is a paid holiday in Finland for most employees. This is based on both the Working Time Act and most collective agreements, which guarantee employees a salary even on days off. However, it is important to check your own employment contract and collective agreement, as they may contain special provisions and exceptions.
You can find more information on the subject from the following sources:
