Applying for membership

Before applying, please review the Contractor’s Obligations and Liability in Subcontracting guidelines further down this page.

What happens after you apply?

1. Mention someone who recommends you as a YardMate member in your application.
2. We will review your application and contact you after it has been submitted.
3. YardMate retains the right to approve or reject an application. No charges will be made before a mutual contract has been signed.

Once your membership has been accepted, your information will be used as follows:

1. General company information will appear on your public profile page.
2. Personal contact information will be available only for YardMate members’ confidential use.

Member benefits

1. Direct connections to decision-makers at other member companies.
2. Request for Quotation portal (RFQ): respond to customer RFQs and publish your own RFQs for other members.
3. Product material support: receive a full-scale evaluation of your product or service and practical support for creating product material. Members with key solutions needed by the industry may be invited to present their material directly to decision-makers.
4. Motivating commission agreements designed to help increase your sales.
5. Visibility on the YardMate website.
6. Marketing activities that improve your company’s visibility.
7. Member meetings arranged as needed.
8. News publishing opportunities on the YardMate front page.
9. Job advertising through the YardMate jobs portal.
10. YardMate Office support: our team is ready to help with any questions. See the YardMate Office contacts.

Contractor’s obligations and liability in subcontracting

• fact_check 1. What is the client’s responsibility?

  A client—for example, a shipyard, shipping company, industrial operator, or service provider—is responsible for ensuring that its subcontractors and labor suppliers meet their statutory obligations.

  Under the Contractor’s Obligations and Liability Act (1233/2006), before signing a contract, the client must verify that the contractor:

  1. is properly registered in the Trade, Prepayment, VAT, and Employer Registers;
  2. has no outstanding tax debts;
  3. has paid all pension insurance contributions;
  4. has arranged occupational health care; and
  5. complies with the applicable collective agreement and employment legislation.

  Failure to obtain these documents may result in a negligence fee of €2,000–50,000. If the client knows or should have known that the subcontractor uses illegal or undeclared labor, the client may also face criminal liability, such as aiding unauthorized employment or employment discrimination.

• account_tree 2. Responsibility in the procurement chain

  Responsibility depends on who acts as the client:

  1. Each company is responsible only for its own contracts.
  2. Responsibility does not automatically extend throughout the entire subcontracting chain, although criminal liability may apply if a client knowingly accepts unlawful practices.

  Example

  • A shipyard or industrial company is responsible for its subcontractors.
  • A shipping company or end customer is responsible only when it directly orders labor or services.
• payments 3. Pricing and wage increases

  As a rule, the client is not automatically required to pay more if subcontractor costs increase because of wage rises or legal changes.

  • Fixed-price contract: the subcontractor bears the risk.
  • Hourly or unit-price contract: adjustments are allowed according to the contract terms.
  • Long-term contract: adjustments are possible only when the contract includes a relevant clause, such as an index or cost-change clause.
• history 4. Retroactive wage corrections
  1. A tender is binding once the contract is concluded, unless otherwise agreed.
  2. A subcontractor cannot unilaterally raise prices after signing.
  3. Withdrawing from work without a valid reason will usually result in damages or contractual penalties.
• gavel 5. Additional key points

  Joint liability for wages

  If the client neglects its due diligence and the subcontractor’s employees remain unpaid, the client may be jointly liable for those wages.

  Authorities’ supervision

  The Regional State Administrative Agencies and the Finnish Tax Administration conduct joint inspections across industries, especially in manufacturing, construction, and logistics.

  Contract clauses

  Contracts should specify:

  1. the subcontractor’s responsibility for its employees and subcontractors;
  2. the client’s right to terminate the agreement in case of legal violations; and
  3. an obligation to notify the client of changes in the subcontracting chain.

  Reputation and financial risks

  Neglecting contractor obligations may lead to fines, loss of reputation, and exclusion from future tenders.

• menu_book 6. Key legislation
  1. Contractor’s Obligations and Liability Act (1233/2006)
  2. Employment Contracts Act (55/2001)
  3. Occupational Safety and Health Act (738/2002)
  4. Collective Agreements Act (436/1946)
  5. Criminal Code, Chapter 47 (Labour offences)