Home » Membership » To students » Student membership Student membership Are you studying for a career in the service sector in a vocational education institution or a university of applied sciences? You should join PAM as a student member – membership is very useful! Join PAM as a student PAM’s student membership is free – join now! PAM’s student membership is free of charge. As a student member, you get Work-life knowledge You get information about the working conditions and wages in your field Trainings and events You can participate in PAM’s training and events for free Membership benefits You have access to PAM’s valuable membership benefits such as CityShoppari Get ready for worklife When you go to work, you are aware of your rights. What is the difference between student membership and full membership? Students don’t have to pay any membership fees. A student member is not entitled to PAM’s legal aid, industrial action compensation, employment relationship assistance or unemployment security, nor has they the right to vote in union elections. Join PAM if you are studying in the following fields in a vocational education institution or a university of applied sciences: Business and Business Administration Information and Communications Technology Restaurant and Catering Services (Cook, Waiter/Waitress) Tourism Industry (Hospitality, Tourism and Reception work) Cleaning and Property Maintenance Services (Property Maintenance Operative, Facility Maintenance, Housekeeping) Safety and Security (Security Officer) Hairdressing and Beauty Care (Beauty Therapist, Hairdresser, Beauty Consultant, Barber) Logistics (Warehouse Operative) Pharmaceutics (Pharmaceutical Technician) Horticulture (Floristry and Horticultural Business) Natural and Environmental Protection (Nature Guide) “The benefits for PAM members are very good. It’s worth belonging to PAM already during your studies, as you will then get a lot of useful information about working life and can participate in free events. In these events, I’ve made several new friends, and I wouldn’t have had these experiences and friends anywhere else!” Nea Ikonen, PAM member Become a full member as soon as you graduate When your studies end, your student membership will also end. As soon as you start working, you should join as a full member of PAM because it lets you start accumulating the employment requirement and get help in employment-related issues. Membership of a trade union is your best security and support in working life. Read more about why it is worth switching from student membership to full membership. Become a member Any questions regarding student membership? You can contact us via email: nuoret@pam.fi Frequently asked questions Can I become a student member of PAM if I am studying in an upper secondary school? Unfortunately, you can only become a student member if you are studying a service sector profession in a vocational education institution or a university of applied sciences. You can become a member if you are completing a double degree for a profession in the service sector. If you work while studying in an upper secondary school, become a full member of PAM. Read more about why you should join PAM. Why does the student membership not include unemployment security and legal aid? Student membership is free of charge, so it does not include unemployment security or legal aid. To receive legal aid, you must have been employed and a full member for at least 26 weeks. To receive unemployment security requires meeting a 12-month employment condition. When you are a full member and pay the membership fee, your work contributes to meeting the employment condition required for earnings-related unemployment allowance. Because of this, it is a good idea to change your student membership to a full membership as soon as you start working. I am a full member of PAM and have started my studies. Can I change my full membership to student membership? Unfortunately, PAM’s student membership is our first membership, and you cannot change the membership for a student membership as a full member. However, if you are unemployed due to studying and not receiving wages, you have the right to a period without membership fees. You will quality for a period without membership fees by notifying PAM of your study. Read more about the period without membership fees. You will pay normal membership fees from the wages you have earned while studying. I am a student member of PAM, and I am about to start a summer job. What should I do? You should join PAM as a full member when you start a summer job in the service sector or work in the service sector during your studies. You never know what kinds of issues you may face in your workplace, and the union can assist you with questions about matters such as your employment relationship and wages. When you are a full member and pay your membership fees, the work you do counts towards the 12-month work requirement needed to qualify for earnings-related unemployment allowance. This requirement is based on how much salary you earn each month. You don’t need to meet the requirement all at once. It’s enough to collect 12 months of work within a 28-month review period. The review period can be extended for valid reasons, such as full-time studies, parental leave, or military or civilian service. Read more about the employment requirement and earnings-related unemployment allowance on the unemployment fund’s website. Read more about why you should join PAM. Do I need to resign as a student member when I graduate? No. Your student membership with PAM will automatically end one year after your graduation. When you graduate and start working, you should join as a full member. Can the student membership be automatically changed into a full (paid) membership? No. Your student membership cannot be automatically changed into a full membership. You must separately join as a full member. Can I join PAM as a student member if I am already a student member of another trade union? You can be a student member of several trade unions at the same time. This is understandable because it is sometimes difficult to know which union’s terms of employment the student will be covered by when they become employed after graduation. When you go to work, you can only be a full member of one trade union and unemployment fund.
