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22.4.2026 | Prime Minister Petteri Orpo’s Government has agreed on the General Government Fiscal Plan for 2027–2030. Both the global economy and Finland’s finances are facing challenges. In its spending limits session, the Government focused on new targeted measures to strengthen people’s confidence in the future and improve the conditions for growth and employment.

29.11.2024 | The tripartite working group tasked with examining the implementation of the EU Directive on Minimum Wages in Finland has completed its work. According to the group, implementation of the Directive does not require national legislative measures. The current legislation meets the requirements of the Directive, and the conclusion of collective agreements is supported through official measures. In Finland, minimum wages are based exclusively on the collective agreement system.

17.11.2022 | The Government proposes amendments to the Act on Occupational Safety and Health Enforcement and Cooperation on Occupational Safety and Health at Workplaces (Act on Occupational Safety and Health). The proposal would extend the occupational safety and health (OHS) authorities’ powers concerning the enforcement of provisions on wage dumping. The OSH authorities would also have new duties concerning the notification of other authorities of problems with indoor air quality.

10.12.2020 | On 28 October 2020, the European Commission presented a proposal for a Directive on adequate minimum wages in the EU. The Government supports the proposal’s objective to combat in-work poverty, for example by improving the role of labour market organisations in wage formation and their ability to negotiate and agree wages through collective agreements.

19.5.2025 | Prime Minister Petteri Orpo gave a speech at the Finland in NATO – Two Years in the Alliance event at Finlandia Hall. Speech to be checked against delivery.

10.12.2024 | Key information processing skills needed by Finland’s adult population (aged 16 to 65) in different areas of life were assessed in the Programme for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies (PIAAC). The survey focused on literacy, numeracy and adaptive problem-solving skills. By international standards, Finland ranked at the top in literacy and numeracy skills.

28.6.2024 | The Government and central labour market organisations have negotiated joint equal pay measures for the period 2024–2027. The aim of the Equal Pay Programme is to further reduce the gender pay gap. In addition to the measures set out in the Programme, there are other measures underway to reduce the pay gap.

31.12.2024 | Fellow citizens, The last few days of the year have brought our security into focus. We all went off to celebrate Christmas, each in our own way.  But even during the holidays, Finland kept an eye out for trouble.

19.1.2026 | The International Monetary Fund (IMF) published its annual report on the Finnish economy on Monday 19 January. According to the IMF, efforts to strengthen public finances will have to continue for several years.

16.1.2024 | The Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment will appoint a tripartite working group to prepare legislative amendments to implement changes to the negotiation system, in accordance with the Government Programme. The Government’s aim is to promote the creation of an export-driven labour market model.

8.8.2024 | The Ministry of Finance’s draft budget for 2025 implements the Government’s policies to strengthen general government finances. The draft budget totals EUR 88.1 billion and shows a deficit of EUR 12.2 billion.

22.2.2022 | The ‘Gender impacts of collective agreements from the perspective of equal pay’ project, which is funded by the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, examines collective agreements from the perspective of gender equality. The research focuses particularly on the impact that collective agreements have on the achievement of equal pay.

17.6.2022 | Accelerating inflation is slowing economic growth. Finland’s gross domestic product will grow by 1.4% this year, estimates the Ministry of Finance in the Economic Survey published on 17 June.

25.8.2023 | The proposal of the Ministry of Finance for the 2024 budget and spending limits for 2024–2027 ensures implementation of the policies in the Government Programme. The budget proposal totals EUR 87.2 billion, and a deficit of EUR 10.1 billion is proposed. The budget total is EUR 3.7 billion higher than the total budgeted for 2023, including the first supplementary budget. The budget proposal will be published in full at budjetti.vm.fi on Monday 28 August.

11.2.2022 | As part of its commitment to raise the employment rate, the Government decided on new employment measures on 11 February 2022 that will boost its existing measures.

16.2.2023 | The amendments to the Aliens Act will streamline the application and decision-making process for work-based residence permits. The reform is part of a broader package that aims to reduce the average processing time of permits to a maximum of one month. The new provisions will increase the automation of the application process and introduce a certification for employers.

4.6.2021 | According to the Working Life Barometer 2020 published by the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment on 4 June 2021, the coronavirus pandemic had little effect on the physical and mental strain of work or work ability among all wage and salary earners. The level of stress or work exhaustion experienced also did not change significantly from 2019. However, there were clear differences between groups.

18.1.2021 | Minister for Nordic Cooperation and Equality Thomas Blomqvist, Minister of Employment Tuula Haatainen, Minister of Education Jussi Saramo and the heads of central labour market organisations will meet on Tuesday 19 January to discuss equal pay. The meeting will focus on how to implement the joint Equal Pay Programme adopted in late 2020. The aim is to reduce the average pay gap between women and men faster.

16.1.2023 | The report contains the results of the Labour Market Roadmap project by occupation and region and proposes solutions to improve the availability of labour. According to the report, that divides occupations into those suffering from labour shortage, mismatch or surplus, the increase in labour market mismatch is largely explained by the growing number of atypical employment relationships. 

16.6.2025 | Finland’s economy is recovering from recession, but trade disputes and uncertainty are delaying faster growth. Public finances are in dire need of a turnaround, as deficits remain deep and the debt ratio is threatening to rise above 90 per cent, according to the forecast published by the Ministry of Finance on 16 June.