Working Conditions in Finland

Permits

Finland is part of the EU. No special permits needed.

General labour framework

The current collective agreement for film & TV will be valid until 31.1.2023. The collective agreement has been binding since June 2023, meaning that it must be followed in all audiovisual productions. Some of the details are negotiable, but for example overtime is set in law and must be followed.

Working Hours

Overtime

Period-based work

Period-based working system is commonly used as it allows dividing the working hours more freely; working over 8h days and evening out the hours later on. This way over 8h work days are possible without overtime costs as long as the total hours worked during the period do not exceed a certain maximum (8 hours x working days).

Crew Rates

Trade union has set crew minimum wages. These are widely used as a maximum too. The daily rates are for 8-hour days.

Film production wage table effective from 1 April 2024 :

Wage grouping Duration of employment and day wages
2-10 days 11-24 days 24 days or more
PR 1 Supportive work 141.51 129.89 119.57
PR 2 Executional work 248.60 212.49 182.80
PR 3 Executional work with responsability 297.63 226.69 196.99
PR 4 Work with responsability for the art, technical implementation or design 349.27 271.85 246.04

Film production monthly wage table effective from 1 April 2024 :

Wage grouping Monthly wage
PR 1 Supportive work 2,096.38 - 2,465.77
PR 2 Executional work 2,822.83 - 3,588.96
PR 3 Executional work with responsability 3,463.12 - 4,297.74
PR 4 Work with responsability for the art, technical implementation or design 4,010.36 - 5,190.84

Actors’ Rates

The Actors association have recommendations for wages. There is no collective bargaining agreement. This recommendations apply on film and there are no recommendations for tv-production work on actors associations website. According to the associations website fee for 8 hrs working day is on average 800€. The pay is divided into salary and rights. The share of the rights are negotiated production bases. Fringes are paid only on top of the share of the salary. Children and amateur actors are usually paid 100-200€/ day. Extras are usually hired through casting agencies or amateur theatre groups and clubs. Extras are normally paid 20-70€/day depending on the length of the day and if it’s a background or featured extra role. It used to be common to compensate extras with movie tickets or gift cards but lately it’s been criticized a lot and there are less extras available who are willing to take part with a movie ticket or a gift card.
The Finnish labour and occupational safety legislation towards children working hours is strict. Special permission is needed. A child actor’s travel, rest, breaks and filming needs special attention.

Fringes

Production Company pays about 35% fringes on top of all the salaries paid to the crew and cast members, depending on the size of the company. Crew/ cast who work under their own company or via an agency pay their own social payments and holiday compensation. These companies add 24% VAT on the invoice.

Allowances

Catering

Production Company facilitates the craft services during the production. In Finland it’s common that the breakfast is offered half an hour-15 minutes before the call time and it’s free of charge. In addition to breakfast, there are snacks available during the shooting day free of charge. The cost of catering per person is about 15-19€ but the employee pays 8,00-12,00€ daily for a lunch/warm meal which is deducted from the wage.

Locations

Locations cost from any negotiable rate upwards. Usually minimum is 500€/shooting day which sometimes includes pre + wrap. Permissions are needed when filming in public transportation or private places and buildings. Parking permissions are required when filming in the city area and if causing any disturbance to traffic. Each cost minimum 50€. The personnel to stop traffic while filming is usually hired from the fire dept. and costs 30€/hour pp.

Car rentals

A passenger car costs about 800€/month with free km, a van is about 1200€/month and a truck is about 150€/day. Make up-van is about 250€/ day. Generator costs 1500-2800€/week, usage 20€/hour, mileage for truck/ generator is 0,80€/km.

Film commissions in Finland

There are eight film commissions in Finland which are Film in Finland, Finnish Lapland, North Finland, East Finland, South east Finland, West Finland, Åland Film Commission and Film Tampere. In addition to these eight, there’s Villilä Studios in the South-West Finland, helping out with locations & crew.

Important Addresses

Åland

Åland is a small 'state' within Finland with own parliament, government, flag, stamps, etc. Åland also has a Film Commission, totally separated from Finland Film Commission with own financial incentives and own cash rebate.
www.film.ax