Opting out from paying unemployment insurance

[fHaaahn]

(I read postings on unemployment insurance, but still not sure about these questions...)

I am a foreigner from Non-EU country, working as a full-time employee in Helsinki area with 2-year contract ("A" status).
I have been paying unemployment insurance from my salary every month for a year.
My question is...

Q1: I do not think my employer will extend my contract at the end of this year, then I have to leave Finland right away.
Then why do I need to pay for unemployment insurance anyway? I will not see any benefit from it at all.

Q2: Can people opt out (I mean, stop paying it) from it? If you have heard any case like that, please let me know.

Q3: In the US, if a foreigner with working visa loses his job, then he becomes 'out of status', and needs to leave the country in 10 days.
How many days are you allowed to stay here in Finland after work contract ends? I searched for an official web document, but no luck so far.

Many thanks in advance for all information & help!

[Rip]

As far the title question, I don't think that is possible regarding the mandatory payments. The additional unemployment fund payments (They are not at least usually monthly?), with or without union membership, are optional.

Q3: In the US, if a foreigner with working visa loses his job, then he becomes 'out of status', and needs to leave the country in 10 days.

The residence permit does not become automatically invalid if you become unemployed. In theory it could be cancelled by administrative decision (not by your decision of your employer), but I think the practice is that you're allowed to stay here and look for new job within the original time of validity. You will not be able to renew a permit based on employment if you don't have a job.

How many days are you allowed to stay here in Finland after work contract ends? I searched for an official web document, but no luck so far.

As long as you have a valid permit (which as I said in practice is the original validity period of the permit). Then depending if your home country nationality is such that you would not need a visa for short term visit to Finland, you can stay further 90 days as a "tourist" (I assume tourists are not entitled to unemployment benefits, even if they'd otherwise qualify). If you'd need a visa for short term visit you should leave before your residence permit expires.

[cors187]

I never really explored the .6% unemployment insurance , but its stupid to think that you are not legally covered like every other contributor during the work time.So not contributing while you are working may be a breach in legislation(uninsured worker)
Your problem is that ,(like bath and wells often refers to it) at contract date end you die a painless death and no one comes to the funeral,then your forgotten.

I guess your question makes me think of what if you leave the country , then at a later date return , what happens to those contributions?, are you still connected to those contributions.
Im sure there must be a desk somewhere that can answer those questions.
To be honest its not the unemployment insurance that you should be concerned about, we all need some kind of coverage here.Its quite good in fact, as an employee, you instantly get coverage that is acceptable to lawful duties of you and your employer.The more money you earn the more you pay, the less you earn the less you pay.

[Upphew]

Q1: I do not think my employer will extend my contract at the end of this year, then I have to leave Finland right away.
Then why do I need to pay for unemployment insurance anyway? I will not see any benefit from it at all.

You don't see the benefit of taxes that have gone to education and many different things, yet you still have to pay them. Same with unemployment insurance. In fact everyone who earn wage pays it, but only people who pay the optional fund fees get to see the benefit: http://www.tvr.fi/en/frontpage "The main task of the Unemployment Insurance Fund is to finance earnings-related unemployment benefits."

[Pursuivant]

If your contract ends or you get sacked, you can find another employer, and say if your RP is valid for another year, you can go work in the same profession the original RP was issued for. Theres no employer-bound RP's any more, but if you have a RP for a nurse, you cannot go work as a florist. If you get a job as a nurse, then you can continue, otherwise as the florist you need to apply for a new permit even the old one would be valid.