Applying for wage guarantee

Wage guarantee is applied for using an official application form. You can choose either an electronic or paper application method.

Electronic Application

Log in to the Regional State Administrative Agency’s e-service and fill in the application electronically.
Benefits of the electronic service:

The application is sent immediately, and you receive a confirmation of receipt.
You can add attachments later.
You will receive email notifications about any requests for additional information.
You can respond to requests for clarification directly in the e-service.
The application can be cancelled electronically if needed.
The decision will be delivered electronically.

E-service portal

Applying for wage guarantee without electronic application

If electronic submission is not possible, you can submit the application:

by post to the KEHA Centre
via the secure message service (requires registration; recipient: KEHA Centre, wage guarantee)
in person at any KEHA Centre (ELY Centre service point) or employment authority service point
in Åland Island, submit the application to the Development and Administration Centre
from abroad, you can submit the application to a Finnish diplomatic mission

Printable application forms

Important Reminder After Submitting Your Application

Notify the wage guarantee authority without delay if

your employer pays you the claimed wages – either in full or partially,
you reach a settlement with your employer regarding a dispute related to the employment relationship, such as salary or termination.

An electronically submitted application can be cancelled via the e-service. Changes can also be reported, for example, by email.

Wage Guarantee Deadlines

You must apply for wage guarantee no later than three months after the due date of the receivable. This deadline is based on law, and the wage guarantee authority has no discretion to extend it. Exceptions to the deadline are only possible if the employer has committed a serious crime during the employment, such as human trafficking.

Receivables typically become due on payday or upon termination of employment. You should apply for wage guarantee as soon as it becomes clear that the salary could not be paid on the due date. Holiday pay can also be claimed during the employment if it cannot be granted as time off or paid as monetary compensation. If the employer later pays the receivables, the application can be easily cancelled.

If the deadline falls on a weekend, public holiday, or other non-working day, the application can be submitted on the next working day. To ensure equal treatment of applicants, electronically submitted applications must also be received by 4:15 PM on the final day of the deadline.
Late applications must be rejected according to law and legal practice.

Example 1: Salary for the period 1 Feb 2024 – 29 Feb 2024 was due on 5 Mar 2024. The wage guarantee application must be submitted by Wednesday, 5 Jun 2024 at 4:15 PM.
Example 2: Employment ends on 31 May 2024. If no agreement is made regarding final salary payment, the receivables become due on the last day of employment. Since 31 Aug 2024 falls on a Saturday, the application must be submitted by Monday, 2 Sep 2024 at 4:15 PM.

Extended Deadline for Victims of Serious Labour Exploitation. A longer application period applies to victims of serious labour exploitation. A victim may apply beyond the normal deadline if the employer or their representative has been convicted of

human trafficking or aggravated human trafficking,
extortion or aggravated extortion,
employment discrimination or extortionate employment discrimination.

Wage guarantee may also be granted without a criminal conviction if the exploitation prevented the employee from applying within the normal deadline. In such cases, the employer’s actions must resemble the above crimes or be similarly serious.
Receivables must be claimed:

Within three months of the criminal conviction becoming final, or
If no conviction exists, within 18 months of the end of the employment.

Wage Guarantee Application Process

Once your application is received, it is registered, and you may be asked to provide additional information. After registration and any necessary additions, a statement is requested from the employer. If the company is bankrupt, the request is sent to the bankruptcy estate.
If the employer disputes the claimed receivables, you will be given an opportunity to respond. Before a decision is made, further clarifications may be requested from various parties. You may also be asked for additional documentation regarding your claims.

Payment Date

If wage guarantee is granted, payment is usually made on the day the decision is issued. By law, the payment must be made within one week of the decision date.