Page 169 - 《客語及少數族群語言政策》附錄_少數語言法律

activities concern solely the Sámi may use the Sámi language as a working language in parallel with
Finnish.

Chapter 3 — Provisions applicable in the Sámi homeland

Section 11 — Special duties

The authorities referred to above in section 2, subsection 1, shall in the offices and other premise located
in the Sámi homeland also observe the provisions in sections 12 –16.
Section 12 — Right to use the Sámi language before the authorities

When dealing with the authorities, a Sámi has the right to use the Sámi or the Finnish language,
as he or she may choose. The Language Act (423/ 2003) contains provisions on the right to use the
Swedish language.

A Sámi has the same right before State authorities also outside the Sámi homeland, when these
authorities are hearing appeals against decisions of authorities within the Sámi homeland.

Section 13 — Right to receive documents containing a decision and other documents in the Sámi language
A Sámi party t o a matter shall on request be issued with an application for a summons, a
judgment, a decision, a record or another document in the Sámi language in so far as the matter
concerns his or her rights,
interests or obligations, except where the document is manifestly irrelevant to the resolution of the matter.
If a Sámi party to the matter has used the Sámi language, written or spoken, when contacting an
authority dealing with the matter, the document containing a decision shall be issued in the Sámi
language, to the same extent and under the same conditions, without the need for a separate request to
this effect.

However, a document containing a decision shall be issued merely as an official translation into the Sámi
language if there are several parties to the matter and they are not unanimous regarding the use of the
Sámi language.
Section 14 — Knowledge of the Sámi language and qualification requirements

When recruiting, an authority shall see to it that the personnel in each office or other premises can
provide customer service also in the Sámi language. In addition, the authority shall provide training
or take other
measures in order to ensure that the personnel have the knowledge of the Sámi language necessary for
the performance of the functions of the authority.

Knowledge of the Sámi language may be required as a qualification for personnel of a State authority by Act
or, on the basis of an Act, by a Government Decree or a Decree of the pertinent Ministry, and for
personnel of a municipal authority a s provided in the Municipalities Act (365/ 1995), unless such a
qualification requirement already appears in
an Act or a provision adopted on the basis of an Act. Knowledge of the Sámi language shall be
considered a special merit also in the event that it has not been required as a qualification for
the office, position or function in question.

The provisions of the Act on the Knowledge of Languages Required of Personnel in Public Bodies (424/ 2003)
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