Country profile FIN
National Legal Framework
National Legal Framework
| Provision | Legislation date | Convention | Legislation info | sources | Value | sort_order | Provision description | Legislation description |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Is the sale and trafficking of children for sexual and labour exploitation prohibited? | 1889-12-19 | C182 | The Criminal Code (39/1889) - Sections 3 and 3a | [{"link_name":"The Criminal Code (39/1889)","source_link":"https://www.finlex.fi/fi/laki/ajantasa/1889/18890039001"}] | Yes | 8 | C182 defines all forms of slavery or practices similar to slavery, such as the sale and trafficking of children, debt bondage and serfdom and forced or compulsory labour as worst forms of child labour. | The Criminal Code of Finland (39/1889), Chapter 25, Sections 3 and 3a, prohibits the sale and trafficking of children for sexual and labour exploitation. |
| List of hazardous activities prohibited for children | 2006-06-15 | C138 & C182 | The Decree on Work Particularly Harmful to Young Workers (475/2006) | [{"link_name":"The Decree on Work Particularly Harmful to Young Workers (475/2006)","source_link":"https://finlex.fi/fi/laki/ajantasa/2006/20060475"}] | Yes | 7 | C138 and C182 require the national determination of a list of hazardous work prohibited for children under 18 years of age. The competent authorities should consult with workers' and employers' organizations to determine what types of employment or work are considered to be hazardous. Such a list shall be periodically examined and revised as necessary. | The Decree on Work Particularly Harmful to Young Workers (475/2006) lists hazardous activities prohibited for children under 18. |
| Minimum age for hazardous work | 1993-11-19 | C138 & C182 | Young Workers Act (998/1993) - Section 9 | [{"link_name":"Young Workers Act (998/1993)","source_link":"https://finlex.fi/fi/laki/ajantasa/1993/19930998"}] | 18 | 6 | C138 and C182 set 18 as the minimum age for hazardous work, which is defined as work that, due to its nature or the circumstances in which it is carried out, is likely to jeopardize children’s health, safety or morals. C138 and C182 allow countries to permit hazardous work exceptionally as from 16, provided that the health, safety and morals of the young persons concerned are fully protected and that they have received adequate specific instruction or training. | The minimum age for hazardous work in Finland is 18, as stated in the Young Workers’ Act (998/1993), Section 9. |
| Minimum age for admission to apprenticeship | 2017-08-11 | C138 | Vocational Education and Training Act | [{"link_name":"Vocational Education and Training Act","source_link":"https://www.finlex.fi/fi/laki/ajantasa/2017/20170531"}] | No | 5 | C138 does not apply to work done in school for general, vocational or technical education or in training institutions or work done by children at least 14 years of age in undertakings, where such work is carried out in accordance with conditions prescribed by the competent authority. Such work must be an integral part of: (i) a course of education or training for which a school or training institution is primarily responsible; (ii) a programme of training mainly or entirely in an undertaking, which programme has been approved by the competent authority; or (iii) a programme of guidance or orientation designed to facilitate the choice of an occupation or of a line of training. | The Vocational Education and Training Act does not explicitly mention the minimum age for apprenticeships. |
| Is the minimum age for admission to work not less than the age for completion of compulsory schooling? | 2020-12-30 | C138 | Compulsory education law (1214/2020) - Article 2 | [{"link_name":"Compulsory education law 1214/2020","source_link":"https://finlex.fi/fi/laki/alkup/2020/20201214"}] | No | 4 | C138 requires member States to align the age of completion of compulsory education with the minimum age for admission to employment or work. | In Finland, compulsory education lasts until the age of 18, as per the Compulsory Education Act (1214/2020), which is above the minimum age for admission to work set to 15 years. Article 2 states that compulsory education ends when the individual turns 18 years old or when they have successfully completed the degree referred to in the Matriculation Examination Act (502/2019), the Vocational Education Act (531/2017), or an equivalent education completed in Åland or abroad. |
| Light work - Determination of types and conditions of activities | 1993-11-19 | C138 | Young Workers Act (998/1993) - Sections 2 and 15 | [{"link_name":"Young Workers Act (998/1993)","source_link":"https://finlex.fi/fi/laki/ajantasa/1993/19930998"}] | Yes | 3 | If the country chooses to allow light work, States must determine what activities are considered light work, and the hours and the circumstances under which they may be carried out. | The Finnish legislation allows children who have reached the age of 14 to perform light work. This is detailed in the Young Workers’ Act (998/1993), Sections 2 and 15: Section 2: a person who has reached the age of 14 or reaches the said age during the same calendar year can be employed in light work that does not harm his health or development and does not cause harm to his schooling: 1) no more than half of the vacation time given to him from school at any given time; mixed 2) temporarily or otherwise for short-term work performance during school work. (16.10.1998/754) For a special reason, with the permission referred to in section 15, it may be allowed that a person younger than referred to in subsection 2 may work temporarily as a performer or assistant in art and cultural performances and other similar events. |
| Minimum age for light work | 1993-11-19 | C138 | Young Workers Act (998/1993) - Section 2 | [{"link_name":"Young Workers Act (998/1993)","source_link":"https://finlex.fi/fi/laki/ajantasa/1993/19930998"}] | 14 | 2 | C138 defines light work as work that does not interfere with children’s schooling, or their ability to benefit from it, and that is not hazardous. C138 allows countries to permit light work for children younger than the general minimum age. For countries that set the minimum age at 15, this means children aged 13-14, and for those that set it at 14, children aged 12-13 may engage in light work. | Finnish legislation allows children who have reached the age of 14 to perform light work. This is detailed in the Young Workers’ Act (998/1993), Section 2: 'a person who has reached the age of 14 or reaches the said age during the same calendar year can be employed in light work that does not harm their health or development and does not cause harm to their schooling.' |
| Minimum age for admission to work | 1993-11-19 | C138 | Young Workers Act (998/1993) - Section 2 | [{"link_name":"Young Workers Act (998/1993)","source_link":"https://finlex.fi/fi/laki/ajantasa/1993/19930998"}] | 15 | 1 | C138 establishes 15 as the minimum age for work in general. Developing countries have the option of setting a minimum age of 14 as a transitional measure as they strengthen their education systems and economies. | According to the Finnish Act on Young Workers, Chapter 1, Section 2, the minimum age for employment is 15 years. |
| Is the use, procuring or offering of children for illicit activities, in particular for the production and trafficking of drugs, prohibited? | 1889-12-19 | C182 | The Criminal Code (39/1889) - Sections 3 and 3a, Chapter 50 | [{"link_name":"The Criminal Code (39/1889)","source_link":"https://www.finlex.fi/fi/laki/ajantasa/1889/18890039001#L1"}] | No | 11 | C182 prohibits the use, procuring or offering of children for illicit activities in particular for the production and trafficking of drugs. | The Finnish Criminal Code (39/1889) does not specifically mention the prohibition of the use, procuring, or offering of children for the production and trafficking of drugs. However, Chapter 25, Sections 3 and 3a, prohibits the trafficking of children, and Chapter 50 addresses narcotic crimes, including the production and trafficking of drugs. |
| Is the use, procuring or offering of a child for the purpose of prostitution and for production of pornography prohibited? | 1889-12-19 | C182 | The Criminal Code (39/1889) - Sections 8 and 9 | [{"link_name":"The Criminal Code (39/1889)","source_link":"https://www.finlex.fi/fi/laki/ajantasa/1889/18890039001#L1"}] | No | 10 | C182 prohibits the use of a child under the age of 18 for prostitution, regardless of the child's consent. The use, procuring or offering of any person under the age of 18 for commercial sexual exploitation constitutes a worst form of child labour, even if prostitution is a legalised. In regard to the prohibition of child pornography, States need to make sure that national legislation addresses the involvement of a child in the production of pornographic materials, including non-recorded performances. | The Criminal Code (39/1889), Chapter 20 on sexual crimes, Sections 8 and 9, prohibits the use, procuring, or offering of a child for prostitution. No explicit reference was found to the involvement of children in the production of pornographic materials, including non-recorded performances. |
| Is forced or compulsory recruitment of children under 18 for use in armed conflict prohibited? | 2007-12-28 | C182 | Conscription Act (1438/2007) - Section 1 | [{"link_name":"Conscription Act (1438/2007)","source_link":"https://finlex.fi/fi/laki/ajantasa/2007/20071438"}] | Yes | 9 | C182 defines forced or compulsory recruitment of children under 18 for use in armed conflict as a worst form of child labour. Nevertheless, C182 only prohibits the forced or compulsory recruitment of children under 18, and does not cover the voluntary recruitment of children under 18. | The Criminal Code covers broad aspects of trafficking and forced labour. The specific prohibition against the forced or compulsory recruitment of children under 18 for military service is maintained through the Conscription Act. Section 1 of the Conscription Act - Obligation to Serve, sets out the obligation for Finnish citizens to serve in the military, with compulsory military service starting at age 18. |
International Legal Framework
International Legal Framework
| Ratification status | Convention | Convention description | Date of ratification | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| in-force | C182 | Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention, 1999 (No. 182) | 17-JAN-2000 | Source |
| in-force | C138 | Minimum Age Convention, 1973 (No. 138) | 13-JAN-1976 | Source |
Policies and Plans
Policies and Plans
| Description | sources | Period | Policy name | Implementing agency |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Research did not provide evidence of any specific action plans or strategies specifically addressing child labour. | [{"link_name":"No information","source_link":"No information"}] | No information | No information | No information |