Finland Times

According to the labour organisations, the contents of the government draft appear to be permanent, while they are being presented as fixed term for a period of three years.

The government has proposed having the benefits for the first sick day unpaid, cutting the annual holiday and changing Epiphany and Ascension Day into unpaid public holidays. These changes will remain in effect after the expiry of the three-year mandatory legislation.

The mandatory legislation restricts the right of the employer and the employee to agree on better working conditions. In effect, mandatory legislation, for instance, limits the renegotiation of extension of annual leave once again.

Furthermore, the government has proposed that employers should organise training promoting the reemployment of laid-off employees.

The amendments, if passed, would come into force in the summer of 2016, and therefore will affect collective bargaining agreements negotiated afterwards.