Minister of Employment Arto Satonen calls on the social partners to find a sustainable labour market model

Minister of Employment Arto Satonen convened a seminar on the development of the Finnish labour market model on 8 November 2023, which was attended by representatives from all employer and employee organisations negotiating collective agreements in Finland.

In addition to the Minister of Employment, the speakers at the seminar included Director General Irene Wennemo from the Medlingsinstitutet (Swedish National Mediation Office) and Professor and Chief Executive Nils Karlson from the Ratio Institute, which specialises in labour market issues. Wennemo and Karlson shared their experiences of how the Swedish labour market model works.

The first panel discussion at the event was attended by National Conciliator Anu Sajavaara and Conciliator Jukka Ahtela from National Conciliator’s Office, Research Director Antti Kauhanen from Research Institute of the Finnish Economy ETLA and Director Mika Maliranta from Labour Institute for Economic Research Labore.

The participants of the guest panel included Päivi Niemi-Laine, Chair of Trade Union for the Public and Welfare Sectors JHL, Jorma Malinen, Chair of Trade Union Pro, Katarina Murto, Chair of Trade Union of Education in Finland OAJ, Minna Helle, Deputy Chief Executive of Technology Industries of Finland, Tuomas Aarto, Director General of Service Sector Employers PALTA, and Markku Jalonen, Managing Director of Local Government and County Employers KT.

Satonen appealed to the labour market organisations to engage in mutual discussion in order to find a common model. “It would certainly be best for Finland if the new pay model could be born out of negotiations between labour market organisations. That is the reason I wanted to convene this seminar and start the debate. I think it would be a national failure if we, unlike Denmark and Sweden, were unable to find a common labour market model that strengthens the national economy and promotes employment,” he said.

According to Satonen, in the absence of a common model, the Government would continue to prepare the policies outlined in the Government Programme. “I believe and hope, however, that a well-functioning and sustainable labour market model for Finland could be found in negotiations between labour market organisations.”

Following the seminar, the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment launched an extensive consultation round for labour market organisations concerning the Government Programme’s entry on the conciliation system as well as the development of the Finnish labour market model. The public consultation will last two months and end on 8 January 2024. After the round of consultation, the Minister of Employment will convene the social partners to review the feedback received and for possible negotiations between the partners.

Inquiries:
Veera Svahn, Special Adviser to the Minister of Employment, tel. +358 295 047 321