Pension records and the processing of personal data

Updated 3.7.2020

The EU’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) requires that you are informed about how your personal data is processed in connection with your request for changes to your pension record by the Farmers’ Social Insurance Institution Mela.

Why and on what grounds is your personal data processed by Mela?

Your personal data is required for processing your request for changes to your pension record, as well as for adding or correcting any missing or inaccurate information in the earnings and accrual register.

If Mela does not receive the requested data, it will be unable to process your request for changes. The information you provide in your request for changes to your pension record are used by Mela only for processing your request. Mela processes your personal data in order to comply with its statutory obligations.

Mela’s right to obtain, disclose and transfer your personal data

The information required for processing your request for changes may be obtained from the employer and other parties subject to the Act on the Openness of Government Activities. Information from the registers of the Finnish Centre for Pensions and pension providers, as well as from the earnings and accrual register, may be used for the clarification. When processing this information, it shall also be stored in the abovementioned registers.

Mela is legally entitled to disclose, if needed, data required for processing your request for changes. If the obtaining or disclosure of your personal data is not legally required, you will be asked for consent that you may subsequently withdraw.

When processing your request for changes to your pension record, Mela may contact other authorities or insurance agencies.

You are entitled to check your data

You are entitled, if you wish, to find out what data is kept about you on Mela’s registers. You may also obtain a copy of your personal data.

You may request that imprecise or incorrect personal data be corrected. You may also supplement incomplete personal data if it is relevant to the processing of your personal data.

You may request that Mela restrict the processing of your personal data if you believe that the data is inaccurate or that it is being processed illegally. In this case, Mela may process your data only with your consent or for purposes specifically set forth in the General Data Protection Regulation. Personal data requests and replies are generally free of charge.

If Mela does not take action regarding your personal data on the basis of your request, you will receive notification of this within one month. If your request cannot be implemented, Mela will give a reason.

Restricted GDPR rights

The processing of your request is based on the law, so you are not entitled to object to the processing of your personal data or request that data required for processing your claim be removed or transferred to another register.

Right of appeal

If you are dissatisfied with Mela’s resolution of your claim concerning your personal data or if you consider that Mela has violated the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation in the processing of your personal data, you are entitled to file a complaint with the Data Protection Officer.

Storage of your personal data

The data required for processing your request for changes to your pension record is retained for the statutory period. The retention period is generally the life of the insured person plus the following five calendar years.

Controller

When processing your request for changes, information may be stored in the registers of the Finnish Centre for Pensions and pension providers, as well as in the earnings and accrual register of the earningsrelated pension scheme.

The contact information for the Finnish Centre for Pensions and pension providers can be found online at tyoelake.fi and etk.fi.