Student Jobs

[casuallyrad]

Does anyone know if there is a maximum hours a student can work legally?
I understand if you make over "x" in a month you no longer qualify for Kela benefits but is there any law saying for example students can only work these specific times or a maximum in a month etc?

[Pursuivant]

http://213.138.145.18/netcomm/content.a ... guage=EN#2

[casuallyrad]

From what I can see that link applies to student visas. I came to Finland a year ago as a EU citizen for work. My employer needed me to learn the language to continue my job so I started one of those unemployment office Finnish language classes. Last month I started the "valma" course at ammattikoulu.
Because I work evenings and weekends I can sometimes go over 25 hours a week. I don't think the link applies to me because I am here for work, not school but I haven't read anywhere differently. Its a little confusing.

[sammy]

What Pursuivant posted refers to some limitations during term time for non-EU citizens who are staying in Finland on a student residence permit. EU citizens do not have such limitations, and I guess (?) this is also true of those non-citizens, regardless of nationality, who reside here permanently (that is, who may also be studying but not on a student residence permit)... cue the Maple Leaf flag in your signature...

If you belong to the latter category (as you seem to), I don't think there is any actual limitation for working hours per week as such; KELA is (IIRC) only concerned about how much you earn in €... and even then you can work, you just may need to return the study grant if you earn too much... So work away, unless there's some paragraph in the recently renewed university legislation stating that it is forbidden for the total daily number of working hours and hours spent studying to exceed the limit of twenty-four on any given day... In other words, I too think it's not citizenship itself that clinches the matter, it's your residency status.

[non-EU] Students are permitted to do a limited amount of paid work under a residence permit issued for studies.

But it might be best to ask this from MIGRI and make sure, or maybe someone already has done so? This because what we think seldom pacifies the wrath of the gods of Bureaucracy. (For example if you'd start studying full-time this might result in the basis of your residency to change from "work" to "studies"... presuming your residency is not permanent to start with... yes these things are occasionally rather knotty)

Even if you are allowed to work as much as you like, I'd still say it's a question of balance, both financially (if you want to go on receiving the KELA grant) and in terms of mental health (if you want to avoid going totally tonto over too extensive a workload)

[Pursuivant]

I came to Finland a year ago as a EU citizen for work.

Yes well you are asking a totally different question as to whether a "student is allowed to work" as in a "student from Canada" . You are asking "is a person on KELA allowance legally restricted from working"... thing is KELA has its own rules regarding paying the allowances if you work on the side, so they might cut or ask back your allowance if you go over the threshold as its means-tested. If you look at KELA rules, to be "employed" as in accruing unemployment benefit you must be over 18 hours per week on contract to be viewed as "being employed" so you're skirting the thresholds.

[casuallyrad]

Thanks for the responses!
To clear up any confusion I am Canadian but I came on my UK passport. I got my place in the basic finnish classes through the unemployment office because my employer said that for my contract to continue I would need to learn Finnish and be in full time school, so I became "on-call" at work and started the first course. The Valma course that I am on now is a little different. I think it is offically "ammattikoulu" not just a random unemployment class.
I know how my kela money is affected but thats not my main concern, I just want to make sure that the police dont come and arrest me!
I asked my teacher but she didnt seem to know too much about it and couldnt find it online. You guys have given me some great points to think about and because there are so many variables I think I better run down and talk to kela and the unemployment office this week!

[rinso]

I just want to make sure that the police dont come and arrest me!

not likely if you have a UK passport.

[jazzori]

Does anyone know if there is a maximum hours a student can work legally?
I understand if you make over "x" in a month you no longer qualify for Kela benefits but is there any law saying for example students can only work these specific times or a maximum in a month etc?

Hi,

I might just be re-stating whatever the previous guys have said. That'd be embarrassing, but I assume the risk - can't read everything now. So, what I can tell you: the sums you're allowed to make besides the student grant and not suffer any modification in the amount of money you get.

"For each month during which you receive study grant or housing supplement, the exempt amount is €660, and for each aid-free month €1,970. Assuming that you received aid for 9 months, you would be allowed to have up to €11,850 a year in other income. The income may be earned at any time during the calendar year."

I have my doubts, but I would dare saying that if you don't work regularily, you could earn nothing for 6 months, for example, but €11,850 in the following 6, even though, if that would be split into equal monthly amounts, it would be like €1,975. (therefore, would exceed €660, but still okay)

However, you work regularily, the monthly pay should follow the sums stated above, in italic.

Hope it helps.

I make use of too long sentences.

[Pursuivant]

See now our student is still confusing us claiming to be "studying" as he is not That rule set only if you are on "opintotuki" - the "immigrant integration allowance" is the same rules as with "työmarkkinatuki", its more like unemployment benefit than study benefit. Study benefit is only for a degree/profession, that valma-course is a brushup so you get your unemployment benefit-type running for those.

[jazzori]

See now our student is still confusing us claiming to be "studying" as he is not That rule set only if you are on "opintotuki" - the "immigrant integration allowance" is the same rules as with "työmarkkinatuki", its more like unemployment benefit than study benefit. Study benefit is only for a degree/profession, that valma-course is a brushup so you get your unemployment benefit-type running for those.

I knew I should've read more of this thread! ; )

[Pursuivant]

Well, its bureaucratical, but you can be studying and not a student, and without work and not unemployed...