Minister of Employment Satonen: Chairpersons Murto and Rytkönen to explore ways to launch talks between social partners on Finnish labour market model

On 22 March 2024, Minister of Employment Arto Satonen invited Katarina Murto, Chair of the Trade Union of Education (OAJ) and Negotiation Organisation for Public Sector Professionals (JUKO), and Millariikka Rytkönen, Chair of the Union of Health and Social Care Professionals (Tehy), to find a way to bring together all employer and employee organisations, that participated in the negotiations on Finland’s labour market model in autumn 2023, to agree on a sustainable labour market model.

Minister of Employment Satonen met the chairpersons to discuss the upcoming work on 26 March 2024.

“As a small and open economy, Finland lives on exports. That is why, a labour market model based on export competitiveness is an absolute prerequisite for our success as a society. The best solution would be a jointly approved model to which all labour market organisations commit. Because it is very important for Finland that the matter is resolved in a manner that is as sustainable as possible, I have asked Murto and Rytkönen to thoroughly evaluate the conditions and means to involving employee organisations in the negotiations. I thank the chairpersons for accepting this assignment. It is essential that their discussions remain confidential at all times. Naturally, I fully support their work and I hope that they are allowed to do their work in peace over the next few weeks,” Satonen says.

Satonen’s request is based on a report by State Secretary Mika Nykänen, who previously met key labour market organisations on behalf of Prime Minister Petteri Orpo to evaluate the conditions for launching negotiations on Finland’s labour market model. Nykänen’s report revealed that all labour market organisations consider it necessary to create a common contract-based labour market model, and that they hope such a model can be created, primarily through agreement. However, some organisations have preconditions for launching negotiations.

Legislative drafting on the development of the mediation system continues as planned in the tripartite working group. The government proposal is due to be submitted to Parliament during the autumn session 2024.

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