The Newsletter of TyöLakeus

Summation of the year

The year 2025 was TyöLakeus´ first year of operation. It was hard and dear, one could say. It was great to be able to implement the change that had been prepared for a long time. Many things were predictable and foresaw, but there were even more that could not be known. The year brought up challenges related to the budget in particular. However, the launch was secured with the help of a very competent team, which has enabled us to overcome the challenges and I am very proud of that.

In terms of customer experience, the year has been good in the Seinäjoki, Ilmajoki and Isokyrö areas despite the weak labor market situation: both employers and job seekers have been satisfied with our services based on feedback.

A strong foundation has been built in the past year, but the work is just beginning. In 2026, we want to develop in identifying and responding to different customer needs. We intend to keep the service coverage as diverse as possible for all customer groups and we want to create even more effective and customer-oriented services to support those who cannot directly find work. Success in this requires extensive cooperation in the area, which TyöLakeus and its three member municipalities are ready for. In the future, we will be able to focus even more on developing operations and making them more effective – the friction in movement is always lower than the friction in the launch.

Now I would like to thank you for the past year together. Let’s make 2026 even better than the previous one!

-Ilkka Rintala, the Head of the Employment Area of TyöLakeus

Legislative change in employment services

Significant legal changes are coming to the industry of Ministry of Employment and the Economy, especially regarding employment services and unemployment security, in 2026. The most important changes for our customers are the clarification of the job search process and changes to the sanction system. The changes will come into effect in stages from the first of January 2026.

Clarification of the service process: with the change, the job seeker will be provided with an initial interview within ten business days of starting the job search, instead of the current five business days. Instead of the current more structured service process, the job seeker will be provided with a more individualized service based on their service needs.

There will also be minor changes for job seekers working part-time, for example, whose job search obligation will be determined individually in the future, just like for unemployed job seekers.

Changes to the sanction system: failure to meet and contact people in advance and to take the measures agreed in the plan may result in sanctions. If the Parliament approves the bill, starting from the first of March 2026, even the first failure to act may have an impact on the payment of unemployment benefits.

Continue to ensure that your contact information is up to date, that you arrive at meetings and are available at the time of pre-arranged phone calls, and that you submit the necessary reports and documents by the deadline. You can ask your coach for clarification on matters related to your job search by sending your question or contact request through the Job Markets´ E-services. Also familiarize yourself with the changes here.

Big change to official mail

With the change that will come into effect in 2026, official mail will be delivered primarily digitally to everyone who uses electronic services. . Adults who identify themselves with the authorities’ electronic services will receive Suomi.fi messages without separate consent in connection with Suomi.fi identification, unless the person already has the service in use.

The law is expected to come into force later in 2026 instead of the previously proposed date of 12 January 2026. The exact date will be confirmed as the parliamentary proceedings progress.

Read more about this here.

General support as a new benefit

The Parliament has approved a bill on general support. General support is intended for unemployed people who are not entitled to earnings-related unemployment benefit or whose earnings-related unemployment benefit period has ended. The new general support will be introduced on first of May 2026, when it will replace Kela’s current unemployment benefits, i.e. labour market support and basic unemployment benefit. Labour market support and basic unemployment benefit will therefore be abolished at the same time.

General support differs from the current basic unemployment benefit in particular in that it is a means-tested benefit. This means that in addition to the applicant’s earned income, other income, such as rental income and capital income, also affect the amount of the benefit. As income from work increases, general support will decrease steadily.

Read more about this here.

Changes are also coming to the social assistance paid by Kela from the first of February 2026. The reform will guide clients to apply for priority benefits over social assistance and to register as applicants for full-time work, under the threat of a reduction in the basic part of the benefit. You can find more information about the social assistance reform here.

Change to our phone services

From January first, 2026, our phone number that has been serving in English will no longer be in use, as the service is available in both Finnish and English from the same phone number. Therefore, the number 06 416 6545 is no longer in use, but you can still use the number 06 416 6544.

Information letters to help you

We have been sending our customers a monthly infoletter since September of this year. In each letter, we present the service offerings for the month to support job search, divided into different target groups. This way, you can stay on top of our current services. These information packages will also arrive next year, starting in January. Check out the offerings – maybe you will find a solution that suits your situation!

Christmas opening hours

During Christmas we will be serving as follows:

22-23.12.
Online services only (telephone services and service points are closed).

29-30.12.
Seinäjokis´ lobby services and telephone services are open as usual (Ilmajokis´ and Isokyrös´ service points are closed).

31.12.
Online services only (telephone services and service points are closed).

2.1.
Returning to normal opening hours (excluding Epiphany, when services are closed).