Questions and answers about the new unemployment fund A-kassa

What is the A-kassa?

A-kassa is an unemployment fund in which the Industrial Union insures its members against unemployment. A-kassa is the third largest unemployment fund in Finland, where several trade unions insure their members.

The Unemployment Fund of Finnish Industrial Workers, the Construction Sector Unemployment Fund and the Unemployment Fund Finka formed A-kassa in 2022. In 2023, the Unemployment Fund of the transport sector also joined A-kassa.

What is the difference between a union and an unemployment fund?

A union and a fund have their own roles – in a trade union you get to influence and improve working life in many ways together with other active members. The collective agreement negotiated by the union is your most important member benefit. Through the union, you can get support from your workplace shop steward and, in case of problems, free legal aid.

A-kassa is a safeguard against unemployment, and by belonging to the fund, you can apply for earnings-related daily allowance and other benefits. As a member of the union as well as the fund, you get solid security for working life.

As a member of the Industrial Union, you will also join A-kassa. In this way, you will have your working life security and unemployment security in order.

Do I have to pay the A-kassa membership fee separately?

The Industrial Union’s membership fee for 2023 is one per cent of the member’s salary income subject to withholding tax. The membership fee includes the membership fee of the A-kassa and does not need to be paid separately.

What does A-kassa help with?

As a member, you can receive earnings-related unemployment allowance during unemployment, mobility allowance when you get work from further away and job alternation compensation for the period of job alternation leave. A-kassa helps its members in matters related to benefits.

Where can I find more information about A-kassa?

Information about the benefits paid by A-kassa and contact information can be found online at A-kassa.fi.

You can apply for unemployment benefit from the A-kassa eServices, which you can log in to from the A-kassa website.

In matters related to your membership, you can contact the member services of the Industrial Union on Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays from 8.30 a.m. to 3 p.m. and on Wednesdays from 8.30 a.m. to 5 p.m. The telephone number of member services is 020 690 446 and the email address is [email protected].