Earn as You Learn summer trainee programme

The Earn as You Learn trainee programme is a great opportunity for young people to experience working life. The trainee programme can only be applied in fields for which an agreement has been made. This page provides more information about the Earn as You Learn programme in the service sector.

Summer trainee programme in 2023 and 2024

PAM has entered into an agreement with employers’ organisations on a summer trainee programme for 2023 and 2024 in the commercial sector, the hotel, restaurant and leisure industry, the property services sector and pharmacies. 

In the commercial sector, the summer trainee programme can only be implemented in member companies that belong to the Finnish Commerce Federation either directly or through its member associations. In the hotel and restaurant sector, the programme can only be implemented in the member companies of the Finnish Hospitality Association (MaRa). In the property services sector, the programme can only be implemented in the member companies of Real Estate Employers.

During an Earn as You Learn period, companies may not use other forms of employment support for young people, such as summer job vouchers issued by cities, towns and municipalities. 

Agreements in different sectors

Click on the link for more information about Earn as You Learn agreements in different sectors.

• Commercial sector
• Hotel, restaurant and leisure industry
• Property services
• Pharmacies

Commercial sector

PAM and the Finnish Commerce Federation have entered into an agreement on the implementation of the summer trainee programme for schoolgoers in the commercial sector in 2024. The programme offers comprehensive school students, optional tenth-grade students, students participating in TUVA training (preparatory education for an upper secondary qualification) and TELMA training for work and independent living, and upper secondary school students an opportunity for a two-week work experience period in the commercial sector.  

When and what?

A continuous two-week (ten working days) employment relationship under the summer trainee programme can take place between 1 June and 31 August.

The duration of a schoolgoer’s working day can be no more than six hours. The working day must be a continuous period between 8 am and 6 pm.

If a schoolgoer becomes ill during the summer trainee period, the employer may offer an opportunity to complete the trainee period later. If this is not possible, the schoolgoer will still be paid the full wages for the entire trainee period.

In the workplace, it must be decided in advance who will provide the schoolgoer with induction training. The person providing the induction training must be a professional, and special attention must be paid to safety at work during the induction training.

How much does it pay?

In 2024, the full wages for completing the Earn as You Learn trainee programme are EUR 395. The wages include holiday compensation accumulated during the trainee period and all other cash benefits under the collective agreement.

Employment contract form for the Earn as You Learn summer trainee programme 2024 (in Finnish)

Hotel, restaurant and leisure industry

PAM and the Finnish Hospitality Association (MaRa) have entered into an agreement on the implementation of the Earn as You Learn summer trainee programme in companies in the hotel, restaurant and leisure industry in 2024. The programme offers comprehensive school students, optional tenth-grade students, students participating in TUVA training (preparatory education for an upper secondary qualification) and TELMA training for work and independent living, and upper secondary school students an opportunity for a two-week work experience period in the industry. 

When and what?

A continuous two-week (ten working days) employment relationship under the summer trainee programme can take place between 1 June and 31 August.

A schoolgoer’s work shifts must take place between Monday and Friday. The duration of the working day can be no more than six hours. The working day must be a continuous period between 8 am and 6 pm.

If a schoolgoer becomes ill during the summer trainee period, the employer may offer an opportunity to complete the trainee period later. If this is not possible, the schoolgoer will still be paid the full wages for the entire trainee period.

In the workplace, it must be decided in advance who will provide the schoolgoer with induction training. The person providing the induction training must be a professional, and special attention must be paid to safety at work during the induction training.

How much does it pay?

In 2024, the full wages for completing the Earn as You Learn trainee programme are EUR 395. The wages include holiday compensation accumulated during the trainee period.

Employment contract form for the Earn as You Learn trainee programme in the hotel, restaurant and leisure industry 2024 (in Finnish)

Property services

Real Estate Employers and PAM want to support opportunities for comprehensive school students, optional tenth-grade students, students participating in TUVA training (preparatory education for upper secondary qualification) and TELMA training for work and independent living, and upper secondary school students to experience working life within the Earn as You Learn summer trainee programme. The purpose of the trainee programme is for schoolgoers to gain personal experience of the operations of companies in the sector and the jobs available, and of the staff structure, forms of cooperation and opportunities provided by the industry, in addition to offering practical work suitable for schoolgoers.

When and what?

A continuous two-week (ten working days) employment relationship under the summer trainee programme can take place between 1 June and 31 August in 2023 or 2024.

The duration of the working day can be no more than six hours. The working day must be a continuous period between 8 am and 6 pm and must take place during daytime shifts (Monday to Friday). A work shift may not begin before 7 am, with the exception of young people aged under 15, whose work shift may not begin before 8 am. The work shift must end no later than 6 pm.

If a schoolgoer becomes ill during the summer trainee period, the employer may offer, as a primary option, an opportunity to complete the trainee period later. If this is not possible, the schoolgoer must be paid her or his wages despite the sickness absence.

The summer trainee programme and the induction training included in the programme must be planned so that the schoolgoer can perform their work safely and get as comprehensive an overview as possible of the operations of companies in the sector. There must be a balance between learning and working under the programme. The person providing induction training must be designated in advance, and she or he must be professionally qualified.

How much does it pay?

In 2023 and 2024, the full wages for completing the Earn as You Learn summer trainee programme are EUR 395. The wages include holiday compensation accumulated during the trainee period.

Earn as You Learn employment contract form for the property services sector (in Finnish)

Pharmacies

PAM and the Pharmacy Employers’ Association have entered into an agreement on the implementation of the schoolgoers’ summer trainee programme in pharmacies in 2024. The programme offers comprehensive school students, optional tenth-grade students, students participating in TUVA training (preparatory education for an upper secondary qualification) and TELMA training for work and independent living, and upper secondary school students an opportunity for a two-week work experience period.

When and what?

A two-week (ten working days) employment relationship under the summer trainee programme can take place between 1 June and 31 August.

The duration of a schoolgoer’s work shift can be no more than six hours. The shift must be a continuous period between 8 am and 6 pm (Monday to Friday).

The trainee must be able to get as comprehensive an overview as possible of the operations of pharmacy. The person providing induction training must be given sufficient time to perform the task.

How much does it pay?

In 2024, the full wages for completing the Earn as You Learn summer trainee programme are EUR 395. The wages include holiday compensation accumulated during the trainee period and all other cash benefits under the collective agreement.

Plus an opportunity for schoolgoer’s wages
Under the collective agreement for pharmacies, a schoolgoer can be paid schoolgoer’s wages. If the trainee has been in an employment relationship under the Earn as You Learn programme, the duration of the employment relationship reduces the maximum period for paying schoolgoer’s wages.

A schoolgoer may have only one work experience period under this agreement in the same pharmacy between 1 June and 31 August 2024. 

Employment contract form for the Earn as You Learn trainee programme in pharmacies 2024 (in Finnish)