Finland Times

 

KT Labour Market Director Markku Jalonen (left.), Confederation of Finnish Industries EK's President and CEO Jyri Häkämies, SAK Chairman Lauri Lyly, Chairman of the Akava Sture Fjäder and STTK: Antti Palola. File Photo – Lehtikuva.

The labour market organisations’ response to the government-announced measures to improve cost-competitiveness did not leave room for interpretation.

 

The trust between the government and the labour organisations has been distorted, which marks the next steps for the tripartite preparations.

 

Reducing the benefit level for sick days in such a way that the first day will in the future be unpaid, halving the overtime pay and reducing the Sunday pay are some of the measures which the government has proposed to boost competitiveness.

 

According to the chair of the Central Organisation of Finnish Trade Unions-SAK, Lauri Lyly, the government has unilaterally breached the Finnish culture of contract.

 

“The government does listen, but it does not listen to the side of the labour market,” said Lyly.

 

On the contrary, the Confederation of Finnish Industries-EK supports the growing role of the government in the tripartite set up. According to the president and CEO of EK, the unemployment challenges are so great that the government must make decisions which the social labour market organisations were unable to take.

 

News agency Xinhua adds: Antti Palola, the chairman of STTK representing mainly technical professionals said the government measures were an attack against the “Finnish way”.

 

He predicted that enforcement by law will create trouble in the labour market and could increase unrest in the whole society, as tension between various societal groups has already increased through unemployment and the immigration debate.