Short term child care services

The Mannerheim League for Child Welfare (MLL) offers you help with child care. The League’s child care service is meant to meet temporary and short term needs for child care assistance, around the clock, also on weekends. The Mannerheim League for Child Welfare has a pool of babysitters. They are trained and suitable to work with children. A typical babysitter is a student under 20 years of age. In addition to initial training, MLL also provides advanced training, supervision and counseling to babysitters on a regular basis.

Short term child care service is available for example when

a child is ill
a parent is ill
the child’s permanent caregiver is ill
a parent is on a business trip, in a meeting, or studying
parents need a break for hobbies or to spend some time together

How to order a MLL babysitter?

A booking can be made in two ways, either by offering a job directly to a babysitter or by leaving the booking to be taken care of by the babysitter agency. Family will be babysitter's employer (read the instructions below). One babysitter can take care of maximum 4 children at a time.

You can also make an order by phone (Customer Services):
Tel. 044 0303 301 (mon-fri 8:00-12:00)

General instructions

Families must allow sufficient time to get acquainted with the babysitter beforehand and must provide clear guidance in matters relating to the care of the children.
Child care is generally provided at the family’s home or at another appropriate location.
Some babysitters can also look after children who are ill. However, it is the family’s responsibility to give any medication to the child. If medication absolutely must be given to a child while the babysitter is looking after the child, the family must provide the babysitter with clear written instructions on how the medication is to be administered.
Babysitters cannot drive the children in the family’s car. If a babysitter is to drive children in the babysitter’s own car, this must be agreed in writing.
If a babysitter finishes work late in the evening or at night (after 23 o’clock), the babysitter must be taken home safely, either by giving him/her a lift or by paying for a taxi.

Families employ the babysitters

Paying wages

Babysitters are to be paid in cash after finishing their work, according to the nearest half-hour. Pay recommendation of MLL’s child care is 9 euros per hour

The minimum payment is two hours. Wages are to be paid for the hours that were booked, even if the family arrives home earlier.

Sunday working is regulated under section 33 of the Working Hours Act (Työaikalaki). For Sunday work, families must pay babysitters a 100 % supplement, i.e. 18 euros per hour. This higher rate is also payable on religious holidays, the May Day holiday and Finnish Independence Day.

Issuing a payment slip

When paying the babysitter, you must also issue a payment slip. You can print a payment slip from MLL's booking service.

Incomes register

Households that employ people or pay others compensation for work must report the details of paid wages into the Incomes Register. The information must be reported after each payment transaction no later than on the 5th day of the calendar month following the payment month.

The employer or other payer will report paid wages and other earned income with a separate earnings payment report for each income earner. More information:
https://www.vero.fi/en/incomes-register/individuals/

Employer’s pension contribution (TyEL)

At the earnings register the pension insurance company can get selected. The pension insurance company sends the invoice. The family will be charged a total TyEL fee of 25,20 % of the salary.

If the payment for one specific babysitter is not more than 59,36 euro per calendar month, the family is not obligated to pay the employer’s pension fee.
If this monthly payment is more than 59,36 € the pension fee must be paid of the whole amount paid to the babysitter.
The babysitter’s part of the pension fee payment is either 6,75 percent (babysitters aged 17–52 and aged 63-67) or 8,25 percent (babysitters aged 53–62). The babysitter’s part of the pension fee can be subtracted from the payment given to the babysitter.

Unemployment insurance contribution

Family must deduct 1,50 % (year 2019, see table unemployment insurance) of unemployment insurance contribution from all carers aged 17 to 64 years. On the basis of the information entered in the income register, the family receives an invoice for unemployment insurance, if the salary is over 1300 € per year. When family has made the report the unemployment insurance fund will send an invoice considering unemployment insurance contribution. Family will pay employers part (0,50% year 2019) and carers part (1,5 %).

The babysitters are responsible for paying their taxes and for getting liability insurance.

More information is available:
Visit www.palkka.fi for easier payments and other notifications. To complete all the employers responsibilities family can also use a paid service http://palkkaus.fi/ (in Finnish).

Statutory accident insurance

Statutory accident insurance for employees must be taken if a family pays more than 1200€ per year for employers. You can consult insurance companies and choose the right insurance cover for your family. This insurance is taken out on a calendar year basis and covers all babysitters that work for the family.

Materials for downloading:
Acting as an employer
Payslip 2019
Tyel Chart 2019
Unemployment insurance