Working group’s paper on the report on board-level employee representation has been completed

On 1 April 2025, the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment published a discussion paper of a tripartite working group examining the possible need to amend board-level representation of employees, as outlined in a report by rapporteur Jukka Ahtela. The Government will assess the need for amendments in its mid-term policy review session in spring 2025.

Board-level employee representation refers to the representation of personnel in the company’s administration, for example in the board of directors or senior management group. According to current legislation, the personnel has the right to participate in the discussion of important issues concerning the employer’s business and finances and the position of the personnel in companies that regularly employ at least 150 persons with employment contracts in Finland.

A report on the possible need to make amendments to board-level employee representation was submitted by rapporteur Jukka Ahtela (Master of Laws, Trained on the Bench) to Minister of Employment Arto Satonen on 21 January 2025. Subsequently, the report was discussed by a tripartite working group. The discussion paper produced by the working group explores different viewpoints on possibly advancing the legislative project on the basis of the report. The social partners submitted comments on the paper separately. 

Discussion paper is part of the Co-operation Act reform

Amending the Act on Co-operation within Undertakings (Co-operation Act) is one of the Government’s labour market reforms. Amendments in the first phase of the legislative project to extend the scope of the Act and to shorten the minimum duration of change negotiations are currently being discussed in Parliament.

The second phase of the project focuses on the possible need to amend the board-level employee representation. Ahtela was appointed by Minister of Employment Satonen to produce a report on the need to amend board-level employee representation on 11 September 2024. The report was discussed by a tripartite working group, whose term of office ran from 1 January to 31 March 2025. The Government will assess the need to amend board-level employee representation in its mid-term policy review session in spring 2025.

Inquiries:
Nico Steiner, Senior Ministerial Adviser, Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment, tel. +358 295 049 001
Elli Nieminen, Chief Specialist, Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment, tel. +358 295 047 056 
Jaakko Aromaa, Special Adviser to the Minister of Employment, tel. +358 295 047 110 (questions to the Minister of Employment)