Finland Times

The central organisations’ role has changed from party contractor to party consultant and coordinator, he told the Finnish language newspaper Keskisuomalainen.

Ihalainen is a lawmaker of the main opposition Suomen Sosialidemokraattinen Puolue (Social Democratic Party of Finland-SDP) and the longest serving chairman of the Central Organisation of Finnish Trade Unions (SAK).

According to Ihalainen, the change is due to the fact that Finland is now following an open-sector contract model. 

Ihalainen believes central organisations are still required to define the pay line and other similar positions, though the Confederation of Finnish Industries has announced that it would no longer negotiate with the central organisations.

A labour market and policy veteran, Ihalainen estimates that the agreement, together with the burgeoning economic growth, should create 35,000 to 45,000 new jobs.