Act on the Protection of Privacy in Working Life

Citation
Government of Finland, Department of Labour, Act on the Protection of Privacy in Working Life (759/2004) (full-text).

Overview
The purpose of this Act is to promote the protection of privacy and other basic rights safeguarding the protection of privacy in working life.

This Act sets forth provisions on the processing of personal data about employees, the performance of tests and examinations on employees and the related requirements, technical surveillance in the workplace, and retrieving and opening employees’ electronic mail messages.

The provisions of this Act concerning employees also apply to civil servants and any persons in a civil service relationship or comparable service relationship subject to public law, and, as appropriate, to job applicants.

Processing of personal data is also subject to the Personal Data Act (523/1999) and the Act on the Protection of Privacy in Electronic Communications (516/2004), unless otherwise provided in this Act.