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Contact details
Secretary to the Minister
Ms Päivi Saarimaa
Tel. +358 295 163
State Secretary
Ms Saila Ruuth
Tel. +358 295 163 391
Advisers
Ms Hanna Hänninen, Special Adviser (pharmaceutical services, family benefits, Funding Centre for Social Welfare and Health Organisations STEA, and Veikkaus proceeds)
Tel. +358 295 163 508
Mr Juho Orjala, Special Adviser (social security reform, unemployment security, housing allowance, health insurance, occupational safety and health, work ability and wellbeing at work)
Tel. +358 295 163 424
Mr Jiri Sironen, Special Adviser (international and EU affairs, pension security and private insurance, and communications)
Tel. +358 295 163 410
Ministry of Social Affairs and Health
Meritullinkatu 8, Helsinki
PO Box 33
FI-00023 Government, Finland
[email protected]
Current issues
Working group: Placing gambling proceeds within the Budget and beneficiaries under the spending limits procedure
Draft government proposal for family leave reform completed
Finland strengthens economy of wellbeing approach by joining Wellbeing Economy Governments network
High-profile group to look for ways to strengthen wellbeing and equality in the aftermath of coronavirus crisis
Work to promote the economy of wellbeing continues
Future social security will be built through long-term and open discussion
A comprehensive social security reform to be launched – Pasi Moisio will chair the committee
Family leave reform aims to improve the wellbeing of families and to increase gender equality
Activation model to be repealed at the beginning of 2020
Government of Prime Minister Marin appointed
Personal details
Minister of Social Affairs and Health, 10 December 2019 to present
Practical Nurse, Member of Parliament, Left Alliance
Date and place of birth: 24 January 1979, Riihimäki
Place of residence: Riihimäki
Political career
Minister of Social Affairs and Health, 10 December 2019 to present
Minister of Social Affairs and Health, 6 June 2019–10 December 2019
Left Alliance Parliamentary Group, Chair 23 April 2015 to present
Left Alliance, 1st Deputy Party Leader, 2013–2015, Left Alliance, 2nd Deputy Party Leader 2007–2013
Member of Parliament, 2011 to present
Parliament work
Riihimäki Local Council, Member 2014 to present, 1st Vice Chair 2017–2019
Riihimäki City Council, 3rd Vice Chair 2013–2017
Assembly of the Regional Council of Häme, Member 2004– (ended)
Other work experience and societal responsibilities
Riihimäen seudun nuorisoasunnot Ry (Riihimäki district youth housing), Counsellor 2010–2011
Riihimäki District Health Care Centre, Practical Nurse 2006–2009
RTV-Yhtymä Oy, Cashier 2002–2006
Hihhihhii Oy, Programme Salesperson 2001
Oljamikoti Oy, Substitute Nurse 2000–2001
McDonald's, Restaurant Worker 1997–2000
Tradeka Board of Representatives, Member 2016–2019
Alko, Supervisory Board, Member 2016–2019
HIV Foundation, Chair 2015–2019
Trade Union for the Public and Welfare Services (JHL), Union Council Representative 2012–2019
Parliamentary Trustees of the Social Insurance Institution of Finland 2011–2015
VR Group Ltd, Supervisory Board, Member 2009–2015
Other information
Spouse: Henri Mikael Pekonen
Language skills: Finnish, English
Profile
Aino-Kaisa Pekonen is Finland’s Minister of Social Affairs and Health. She has served as Member of Parliament since 2011, focusing in particular on questions regarding social and health policy. Pekonen is a trained Practical Nurse for Social and Health Care and she used to work as a housing counsellor and practical nurse before being elected as Member of Parliament. She has served as Vice-Chair of the Left Alliance and chaired the party’s Parliamentary Group. Pekonen has also been active in many civil society tasks, for example as Chair of the Board of the HIV Foundation.
Further information
Twitter
Aino-Kaisa Pekonen
Instagram
Vasemmistoliitto
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