Accessibility
What is accessibility?
In digital services, accessibility means that the services take different users, their needs and usage situations into account to make the services as easy to use as possible for everyone.
The accessibility of public sector web services is governed by the Act on the Provision of Digital Services. Accessibility means that websites and mobile applications are useable by different types of users. This also includes users with functional disabilities and users who use technical assistive products. Accessibility also includes the principle of easily understandable web content.
The law requires content published online to comply with the international Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG). The WCAG are an international standard on which the requirements are based. The WCAG include three different target levels for accessibility: A, AA and AAA.
Accessibility Statement
Accessibility statement
This accessibility statement pertains to the Service Manual website. The website’s address is https://tyollisyys.palvelumanuaali.fi/en.
Goal of the City of Helsinki
The City of Helsinki’s goal with regard to the accessibility of digital services is to achieve the AA level or higher as defined in the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), as far as is reasonably possible.
Compliance status
This website meets the critical accessibility requirements set by law at the AA level of WCAG 2.1, with the following deficiencies:
Non-accessible content
The content specified below does not yet meet all the accessibility requirements set by law.
Observed deficiencies
Cookie consent banner: The website’s cookie consent banner is not the first element to receive keyboard focus; users first have to browse the page content in order to focus the buttons (WCAG 2.1: 2.4.3 Focus Order).
Non-text content: Not all images have clear text alternatives for users of assistive technology (WCAG 2.1: 1.1.1 Non-text Content).
Notifications of content changes: Some content changes are not automatically conveyed to users of assistive technology (WCAG 2.1: 4.1.3 Status Messages).
Automatic content changes: The website features search functions for which the content updates automatically without user input (WCAG 2.1: 3.2.2 On Input).
Functionality of elements: Not all elements (links, buttons, form elements) have accessible names and/or roles, or they are ambiguously defined (WCAG 2.1: 4.1.2 Name, Role, Value). Additionally, not all form elements have visible labels (WCAG 2.1: 2.4.6 Headings and Labels).
Placement and description of elements: Not all elements (links, buttons) have visual information conveyed to users of assistive technology. The elements for which visual information is not conveyed include the description of application form steps and the placement of some links in relation to content, for instance (WCAG 2.1: 1.3.1 Info and Relationships).
Error messages: Not all error messages are conveyed sufficiently clearly to all users (WCAG 2.1: 3.3.1 Error Identification, 3.3.3 Error Suggestion).
Focus order: The focus order of some elements is illogical (WCAG 2.1: 2.4.3 Focus Order).
Visible focus: Not all interactive elements have a clear focus indicator (WCAG 2.1: 2.4.7 Focus Visible).
Links: Not all links have a clearly indicated purpose (WCAG 2.1: 2.4.4 Link Purpose (In Context)).
Contrast: The website includes content that has a contrast ratio below the minimum requirements (WCAG 2.1: 1.4.3 Contrast (Minimum), 1.4.11 Non-text Contrast).
Reflow: Some of the content goes outside the screen or overlaps partially or entirely on small screens, making the website difficult to use on mobile devices, for instance (WCAG 2.1: 1.4.10 Reflow).
Language of the website: Not all content is available in the selected site language, or the language settings are incorrectly defined for assistive technology (WCAG 2.1: 3.1.2 Language of Parts).
Correction of deficiencies
The deficiencies listed above will be corrected by the end of 2026.
The website continues to be developed, and users may encounter accessibility issues in the service. Please email the administrator at palvelumanuaali@hel.fi if you notice a problem on the website that is not included in this list.
Access to information in an accessible format
You can request any content that remains non-accessible due to the deficiencies specified above from the administrator of this website.
Helsinki Employment Services
This accessibility statement was originally drawn up on 24 June 2024 and reviewed on 21 February 2025.
Accessibility Assessment
The accessibility assessment complies with the guidelines and methods of the City of Helsinki, which aim to ensure the accessibility of the website at all stages of the work.
Accessibility has been verified through an audit performed by an external specialist and through self-assessment.
Accessibility has been verified through a programmatic accessibility assessment as well as a manual inspection of the website and its content.
The issues reported by the assessment tools have been checked and corrected where necessary.
The external specialist audit was carried out by Unicus Oy.
Updating the accessibility statement
The City of Helsinki maintains the accessibility of this website through continuous monitoring as the technical solutions and content change, as well as through regular inspections. This statement will be updated in connection with changes to the website and accessibility assessments.
City of Helsinki and accessibility
The City promotes the accessibility of its digital services by standardising publishing activities and organising accessibility-related training for its employees.
The level of website accessibility is constantly monitored as part of website administration. Any deficiencies discovered are addressed immediately. We seek to make the necessary changes as soon as possible.
People with disabilities and users of assistive technologies
The City offers advice and support for people with disabilities and users of assistive technologies. Support is available via the advisory pages specified on the City’s website and via the phone service.
Feedback and contact information
The operator responsible for the website’s accessibility:
Helsinki Employment Services
Reporting non-accessible content
If a user feels that the accessibility requirements are not met, they can report this via email to palvelumanuaali@hel.fi or through the feedback form (https://forms.office.com/e/ehDpQ7L21m).
Requesting information in an accessible format
If a user feels that they are not receiving the website’s content in an accessible format, they can request this information by sending an email to palvelumanuaali@hel.fi or through the feedback form (https://forms.office.com/e/ehDpQ7L21m). We aim to respond to any requests within a reasonable time.
Legal protection of accessibility, enforcement procedure
If a user feels that their notification or enquiry has not been responded to or the reply is inadequate, they have the right to submit a complaint to the Regional State Administrative Agency for Southern Finland. The Regional State Administrative Agency for Southern Finland website provides detailed instructions for this process.
Regional State Administrative Agency for Southern Finland
Accessibility Supervision Unit
www.saavutettavuusvaatimukset.fi/en
Switchboard: +358 295 016 000
Open: Mon–Fri 8.00–16.15
Approval of Accessibility Statement
This accessibility statement was approved on 26 June 2024 and reviewed on 21 February 2025.
Helsinki Employment Services
City of Helsinki
The web service was first released to limited groups of users on 1 September 2023. The website is still in active development and is updated regularly.
This accessibility statement was last updated on 26 June 2024 and reviewed on 21 February 2025. The update changed the addresses to the forms and the service contact information for users of this statement.
The accessibility of the Service Manual web service will be assessed throughout the development lifecycle, and the aim is to design the service with consideration to the accessibility principles.