Trade Union JHL

JHL’s courses

JHL members are entitled to Finland’s most diverse range of free working life training. Develop your occupational competence further, learn more about protection of interests, or study in an open university of applied sciences and get support from your trade union!

Free training exclusively for JHL members

As our member, you can make use of our diverse range of high-quality courses. This training is mostly free of charge – your trade union JHL will take care of travel expenses, course fees, accommodation and meal expenses. You really profit from getting training!

What can I study?

Visit the course and event calendar to view our current range of courses. The selection varies, but we organise diverse courses for many tastes. The course selection is widest in Finnish, but we also offer some courses in English.

Get free training! JHL offers versatile training for working life

Signing up for courses

You can sign up for courses through the course and event calendar or in myJHL.

Most of our courses take place at our own JHL Institute in Helsinki. The address is Sörnäisten rantatie 23. Courses are also organised around Finland.

The phone number of our Education Advice telephone service is 010 7703 510, and we answer calls Mon–Thu, 9 am–12 pm.

JHL Institute has branches in Kuopio (Puistokatu 6), Oulu (Mäkelininkatu 31) and Tampere (Kalevantie 2).

Open universities of applied sciences (UAS) organise their courses online.

Visit the course and event calendar to view our current range of courses. The selection varies, but here are some of the courses that we organise regularly (please note that many of these courses are taught in Finnish and Swedish):

  • themed courses for new members that familiarise them with JHL
  • occupation-specific themed courses
  • introduction courses related to protection of interests and co-determination
  • training for those with a position of responsibility (shop stewards/occupational safety and health representatives)
  • occupational safety and health training
  • co-determination training
  • organisational training
  • courses that have various themes, such as skills for managing a position of responsibility, data protection in working life, communications, and public procurement

Apply for financial support for a course

JHL pays for the members’ teaching and course materials and meals that are a part of the course programme. We reimburse travel expenses in accordance with our rules of travel for courses, and we offer accommodation for participants who arrive from outside the course locality.

We compensate for loss of income by paying a tax-exempt course grant for union organisation courses held on weekdays. In order to receive the grant you need a certificate of loss of income where the loss of income during the course is specified in euros.

In 2025, the calculated daily amount of the course grant is €88.87 per day. The current year’s course grants must be applied by 31 December.

You can apply for a course grant with this electronic form (in Finnish/Swedish).

The union will pay for the teaching and materials, meals related to the course programme, travel costs in accordance with the union’s rules on travel for courses, and accommodation for participants who come from outside the course locality. No daily allowance or compensation for loss of income is paid for these days. As a rule, topical days are arranged on weekends.

The union will pay for the teaching, materials, meals related to the course programme, and accommodation for participants who come from outside the course locality. The union will not pay the participation fee or daily allowance or compensate for loss of income. You can apply for a reimbursement for your travel costs from the union in accordance with the union’s rules on travel. Individual members can get financial support from the union for occupation-specific themed courses with similar content once per year.

Occupation-specific themed courses are comparable to personnel training paid by the employer when the employer pays the participation fee and considers the duration of the course as working time.

Participation fees

The participation fee is €50 per course day. Without accommodation, the fee is €30 per course day.

JHL’s student members should contact their own local branch and ask about financial support for the participation fee.

Unemployed jobseekers are welcome to attend study days. Ask your branch for financial support for paying the participation fee. Get in touch with your branch official.

For more information, call JHL’s Education Advice at 010 7703 510 or send an e-mail to kurssit@jhl.fi.

Paid courses have been agreed on together with employers. Some courses are meant for shop stewards, others deal with occupational safety and health and co-determination.

The course participant’s employer will pay the participant a wage or salary during the course. The union will pay for the teaching and materials, meals related to the course programme, travel costs in accordance with the union’s rules on travel for courses, a possible daily travel allowance, and accommodation for participants who come from outside the course locality.

Paid courses are contract training. Each agreement sector has its own training contract determining which target groups are entitled to paid courses and other compensation.

This page provides information on trade union courses covered by employer financial support, i.e. paid courses. The courses are listed by agreement sector. Go to the course page through the course calendar to apply for courses covered by employer financial support.

If you have practical questions, you can always contact the union’s Education Advice at 010 7703 510 or send an e-mail to kurssit@jhl.fi.

JHL provides training under several training contracts, and the content of the contracts varies. Subject to each contract, the course participant’s employer pays the wages or salary for the participant, and the institute or course organiser collects compensations for the duration of the course from the employers according to the contract. Each participant’s course participation is subject to the training contract of their respective sector.

Training contract courses include shop steward courses (LM), occupational safety and health courses (TS), and co-determination courses (YT). Training contracts determine which target groups are entitled to paid courses and other compensation.

Fees collected by the union from the employer

Shop steward courses (LM) and co-determination courses (YT)

The union collects either a course fee or a so-called meal expense compensation for the participants of co-determination and shop steward courses from the employer. It is collected for each course day for which a public servant is paid their regular salary or a person in a contractual employment relationship is paid a compensation for loss of income.

Occupational safety and health courses (TS)

The employer pays wages or salary for occupational safety and health courses. In addition, the union collects a meal expense compensation or a course expense compensation as a course fee from the employer for each such course day for which a public servant is paid their regular salary or a person in a contractual employment relationship is paid a compensation for loss of income. JHL pays the member’s travel costs and a possible daily travel allowance.

Year 2024

  • AVAINTA €26.21/day (recommendation) (compensation for food expenses)
  • Energy sector €30.07/day (meal allowance)
  • Finnish National Gallery €27.50/day for one-day courses and €55.00/day for two-day courses or longer (course allowance)
  • Church sector (KiT) €30/day (compensation for food expenses) as of 1 February 2024
  • Municipal and welfare sectors €32/day (compensation for food expenses)
  • Palta's special service sector (EPA) and advisory sector €25/day for one-day courses, €50/day for two-day courses or longer (meal allowance)
  • Raskone €32/day (compensation for food expenses)
  • State Railways VR €22.71/day for one-day courses and €45.42/day for two-day courses or longer (course allowance)
  • State sector €27.50/day for one-day courses and €55.00/day for two-day courses or longer (course allowance)
  • Universities €30/day for one-day courses and €60/day for two-day courses or longer (course allowance), remote courses €20.00/day

Year 2025 (the list will be updated as new information becomes available)

  • AVAINTA €26.21/day (recommendation) (compensation for food expenses)
  • Energy sector €30.37/day (meal allowance)
  • Finnish National Gallery €27.50/day for one-day courses and €55.00/day for two-day courses or longer (course allowance)
  • Church sector (KiT) €30.75/day (compensation for food expenses) as of 1 April 2025
  • Municipal and welfare sectors €32.26/day (compensation for food expenses)
  • State sector €27.50/day for one-day courses and €55.00/day for two-day courses or longer (course allowance)
  • Universities €30.00/day for one-day courses and €60.00/day for two-day courses or longer (course allowance), remote courses €20.00/day

JHL Institute

JHL Institute offers many kinds of training for our trade union members in modern education facilities.

JHL’s central office photographed from the main entrance side on a sunny day in May 2023.
JHL Insitute is located in Helsinki in the same building as JHL's central office.

Facebook

JHL Institute in Facebook (in Finnish)

Instagram

JHL Institute in Instagram (in Finnish)

Education facilities of JHL Institute. A corridor in the Institute has different red, green and orange seats and sofas.
A classroom in JHL Institute. The modern classroom has white tables and colourful chairs.
JHL Institute's logo

Financial support from JHL for your open UAS and open university studies

Your trade union JHL supports your studies in an open university or open university of applied sciences (UAS) by paying 75% of the course fees, up to a maximum amount of €60 per year. Open studies are a great way to develop your professional skills further. JHL members can study both face-to-face and online courses in an open UAS or open university at an affordable cost.

Conditions

  • The financial support is 75% of the paid course fees, up to a maximum amount of €60 per year.
  • In order to qualify for the financial support, the member must have paid at least one membership fee.

Here is how you can use this benefit:

  • Choose the study unit that you want from the website of the university of applied sciences or university that interests you and register for it.
  • Pay for the study unit when you register.
  • Save the course fee receipt. The receipt needs to indicate the name of the study unit and the payer, who must be the member attending the course.
  • Enjoy your studies and complete the study unit.
  • Apply for financial support for your course (in Finnish/Swedish). You must apply for the support by the end of January in the following year after starting the course. For example: If you started your open studies during 2025, you must apply for the financial support by 31 January 2026. The processing time for the application is one month.

Many higher education institutions also offer free courses that are open for everyone.

If you have questions, you can contact JHL using the online form (in Finnish/Swedish).

Koski study register helps you to get credits for your courses

You can make use of JHL Institute courses in your other studies through Koski study register. Certain JHL Institute courses have been transferred into the national study register Koski, and they can be accredited as prior learning in your later studies.

JHL’s courses in Koski study register 

You can use the courses that you have studied in JHL Institute to shorten your study time in other educational institutions.  Certain JHL Institute courses have been transferred into the national study register Koski, and they can be accredited as prior learning in your later studies. This also makes it easier to apply for study-related benefits. 

JHL Institute has been registering its courses in the national study register Koski since 2022. 

You can get study credits for the following JHL Institute courses 

  • Kouluttajakoulutusta aktiiveille, 3 + 3 pv, osa 1/2
  • Kouluttajakoulutusta aktiiveille, 3 + 3 pv, osa 2/2
  • Yhdistystoiminnan ABC, 3 pv
  • Työsuojelun peruskurssi, 5 pv
  • Työsuojelun jatkokurssi, 5 + 5 pv, osa 1/2
  • Työsuojelun jatkokurssi, 5 + 5 pv, osa 2/2
  • Työsuojelun jatkokurssi, 5 + 5 pv, osa 2/2
  • Luottamusmiestiedon peruskurssi, kaikki sopimusalat, 3 pv
  • Luottamusmiestiedon peruskurssi, kunta, 5 pv
  • Luottamusmiestiedon peruskurssi, kaikki sopimusalat, 3 pv
  • Luottamusmiestiedon jatkokurssi, kaikki sopimusalat, 3 + 3 pv, osa 1/2
  • Luottamusmiestiedon jatkokurssi, kaikki sopimusalat, 3 + 3 pv, osa 2/2
  • Luottamusmiestiedon jatkokurssi, kaikki sopimusalat, 3 + 3 pv, osa 1/2

You can view the curriculums for JHL Institute’s Koski courses in the eRequirements service. 

Data recording is voluntary

When signing up for a course, or at the beginning of the course, you will be asked for consent to record your study attainment in the Koski register. A separate consent will be asked for each Koski course. 

If you want your study attainment to be recorded in the Koski register, be prepared to prove your identity at the beginning of the course. Identity is proven with a personal ID card or passport. 

Assessment of studies

Your performance is assessed with a pass/fail grade. The assessment can only take place during training. 

If you get a fail grade, you have the chance to retake your competence demonstration. If it hasn’t been possible to make the assessment because your course performance is deficient, you have the chance to complete your performance. You must complete it within two weeks from the end of the course. 

When the teacher or instructor has assessed your study attainment, the education assistant will save it in the Koski register. Only the study attainments with a pass grade will be saved in the Koski data warehouse.

Everyone receives a course certificate

Regardless of whether you get a pass or fail for your course performance, you’ll get a certificate for each course. The assessment does not affect your daily course allowance or other compensation paid by the union. 

The certificates of Koski students mention also that the course has been completed with a pass grade and that the study attainment has been recorded in the Koski data warehouse. 

Where to view your study attainments

You can view your study attainments recorded in the Koski register in the My Studyinfo online service. Log into the service using your online banking codes. 

Study attainment data is not public. Your data is processed with confidentiality by the Finnish National Agency for Education and the maintainer of the educational institution. 

Organisation insurance covers you during the course

Your trade union JHL has taken out an organisation insurance policy that will cover you during your course. The policy includes traveller’s insurance, luggage insurance, travel liability insurance and legal expenses travel insurance. If you for instance fall ill or have an accident during a course, the insurance policy taken out for you by JHL will cover the treatment costs. Learn more about organisation insurance (in Finnish).

Applying for JHL Institute's competence badge

Competence badges are a digital way of highlighting your competence. You can use the badge to tell about your competence for example in your job application and CV.

Here's what to do:

  1. First, create a personal Open Badge Passport account.
  2. Remember the e-mail address that you submitted during registration because you will need it when you apply for a badge.
  3. Describe in your application how you’ve mastered the requirements necessary for granting the competence badge.
  4. Receive your badge by accepting it.

Training for organisational member unions

Members of organisational member unions and other trade unions can apply for JHL's courses using their own electronic form (in Finnish).

Agree on the expenses with your employer and trade union. For more information, contact JHL’s Education Advice by using the contact form (in Finnish), by e-mail (kurssit@jhl.fi) or by phone (010 7703 510).

Questions about courses?

If you have questions about courses, use the electronic form (in Finnish) or call Education Advice at 010 7703 510, Mon–Thu, 9 am–12 pm. See also frequently asked questions about courses (in Finnish).