suomi.fi
Go directly to contents.

Self-employment

You may also work as an independent self-employed trader. An independent trader who sells work agrees to accept assignments independently, and is neither directed nor supervised by the party providing the work. A self-employed person may work as a sole trader, as a freelancer, or as the representative of a company, and is then personally liable for self-employed pension contributions (YEL) and other insurance costs.

The mode of operation is irrelevant when deciding whether a worker is an employee or self-employed. If the formal definition is employment is satisfied, then you are an employee regardless of anything that you may have agreed.

Some signs of self-employment:

  • you arrange your own tools and workplace,
  • you decide your own working hours,
  • your work is remunerated according to its results or as invoiced, or
  • you pay your own pension and other insurance contributions.

Text edited by: Central Organisation of Finnish Trade Unions – SAK, Confederation of Finnish Industries – EK, Confederation of Unions for Professional and Managerial Staff in Finland – Akava, Finnish Confederation of Salaried Employees – STTK, KT Local Government Employers, Labour Market Organisation of the Church – KiT, Office for the Government as Employer – VTML
Updated: 29/1/2024