How to apply for wage guarantee

You can file for wage guarantee through our e-service or by filling out a form. You can get the form online and submit the application to KEHA Centre.

If you are applying for wage guarantee for yourself, please fill out form Palkkaturvahakemus (A) (for employees).

If you are acting as trustee for a labour union, please fill out form B (for unions).

Wage guarantee applications are processed at the KEHA Centre. Please take note that it may take several months to process your application.

Apply for wage guarantee within three months from the date the amount has come due. Damages without a specific due date and based on the law or a contract should be claimed as wage guarantee within three months from the date when a legally binding sentence has been passed or an agreement has been reached in compliance with established labour market practice.

If you are a seafarer, you should make your claim while a maritime lien as referred to in the Maritime Act (674/1994) is in force. Damages without a specific due date, based on the law or a contract and that no longer enjoy maritime lien status must be claimed as wage guarantee within three months from the court sentence becoming final or an agreement is reached in compliance with established labour market practice.

If you haven't filed an application within the prescribed time, the debt can no longer be paid as wage guarantee.

You can only receive wage guarantee if you are an employee. Wage guarantee is not applicable to executive directors of joint stock companies, general partners in limited partnerships, partners in partnerships and own-account workers. Other persons exerting control over a company may also be considered not entitled to wage guarantee.

Only clear, non-disputed debts can be paid as wage guarantee. If an employer contests a debt filed as wage guarantee and the validity of the debt cannot be established through the wage guarantee procedure, the debt cannot be paid until its amount and legal grounds are determined in a legally binding sentence.

Travel or other costs can be paid as wage guarantee if they are ordinary and not excessive.

The maximum amount claimable as wage guarantee from the same employer is € 19,000. No maximum limit applies to seafarers’ wage guarantee. For working time accounts, the maximum outstanding debt that can be filed as wage guarantee is an amount equal to six months’ wages with the same employer. This also applies to seafarers.

There are provisions limiting the right to wage guarantee, intended to prevent abuse. If there are justified reasons to do so, wage guarantee authorities have the right to deny wage guarantee or to reconsider the amount to be paid. This may occur if, for example, the employee has continued to work for the employer even after it must have become clear that the employer cannot pay wages.

If your wage guarantee application has been denied, you should follow the instructions for appeal given in the decision.