Leyla is not a member of MaRa. Emma is a student who works only on Saturdays, and Mai works part-time. Does the MaRa agreement apply to Kuu Kitchen, and to all of them? This episode covers what MaRa TES is, where it applies and who it covers.
The rules
MaRa and PAM agree on it
MaRa represents the employers in hotels, restaurants and leisure. PAM, the service workers’ union, represents the workers. Together they agree on the MaRa collective agreement. The current one runs from April 2025 to March 2028.
Source: MaRa agreement, renewal record 22 May 2025
It covers hospitality
The agreement typically covers restaurants, cafés, pubs and nightclubs, hotels and other accommodation, spas, campsites, catering and staff canteens. The list is typical, not closed: if you serve food and drink or offer a place to stay, it is very likely your agreement.
Source: MaRa agreement 1 §
It is generally binding: yleissitova
The agreement is generally binding, yleissitova in Finnish. You must follow it whether you are a MaRa member or not. In many countries an agreement binds only its members. In Finland, a generally binding agreement covers the whole industry.
Source: Employment Contracts Act 2:7
In practice
It covers every employee
The agreement covers employees under the Working Hours Act: full-time and part-time, students and summer workers. They may work fewer hours, but the same pay rules apply. Supervisors have their own MaRa agreement.
Source: MaRa agreement 1 § · MaRa supervisors’ agreement 1 §
Most common mistake: “it is only for full-time staff”
Some owners think the TES is only for full-time staff. It isn’t. Emma works only on Saturdays, but she is an employee, so she gets at least the TES pay and premiums like everyone else.
Source: MaRa agreement 1 §
A business ID does not make someone a contractor
Asking someone to “just get a Y-tunnus”, a Finnish business ID, does not turn them into a contractor. If you set the hours and direct the work, it is employment, and the TES applies. The law looks at how the work is really done, not just at the contract’s name. The Tax Administration can then treat the payments as wages, and you may owe withholding tax and social security contributions.
Source: Employment Contracts Act 1:1 · Tax Administration guidance on wages and work compensation
This is general guidance, not legal advice. Based on the Employment Contracts Act and the MaRa collective agreement 2025–2028; only the Finnish text of the agreement is binding.
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