Finland Times

The government is reported to have justified its intervention in labour market organisations’ freedom of agreement on the grounds of economic necessity.

The government’s justification was revealed in a draft obtained by the news agency STT on Sunday.

The intervention is suspected to conflict with the constitution and the International Labour Organisation’s convention.

However, according to the draft, it would be possible to intervene, because the limits are defined, they are fixed-term and they do not apply to the existing agreements.

According to the government, the reduction of unit labour costs is necessary in order for the state to meet its other obligations provided in the constitution.

The government is intervening through legislative measures on the possibility of labour market partners to have a free will on labour agreements.

According to the government, the restrictions which would be valid for three years would prevent the parties from agreeing on working conditions better than what is specified in the law.

Such reforms would entail measures which would undermine the sick leave by cutting the first day of the sick leave, changing Epiphany and Ascension Thursday holidays to working days as well as shortening of holiday leave and holiday bonuses.

The government proposal, however, acknowledges that the constitutionality of this kind of intervention has not been tested previously.