Chairpersons Markku Jalonen of Local and County Government Employers (KT), Maria Löfgren of Akava, Jarkko Eloranta of SAK and Antti Palola of STTK listened attentively as Prime Minister Petteri Orpo (NCP) briefed the media on the takeaways of his discussions with labour market organisations in Kesäranta, Helsinki, on Wednesday, 27 September 2023. Orpo announced the launch of a tripartite effort to reform the pension system to create cost savings of roughly one billion euros. (Markku Ulander – Lehtikuva)

THE GOVERNMENT of Prime Minister Petteri Orpo (NCP) is eager to reform the pension system to create around one billion euros in cost savings.

Orpo on Wednesday revealed at a press conference that the details of the reform will be discussed at tripartite meetings with employer and employee organisations, with the objective of finalising the reform in January 2025.

The Callboats test drive in Laajasalo. Photo: Jussi Knuuttila, Forum Virium Helsinki

Autonomous electric water transport could be the answer to improving accessibility, achieving carbon neutrality, and addressing a shortage of skippers in the Helsinki archipelago. However, current legislation is a barrier to the operation of remotely controlled boats.

Over the years, Forum Virium Helsinki, the innovation agency of the City of Helsinki, has accelerated various business ideas through its rapid innovation experiments.

Alko, the Finnish government-owned alcoholic beverage retail company, has implemented its biannual price adjustments this fall, with prices seeing a modest increase of 0.4 percent on average. Some products will experience price hikes, while others will see reductions. Additionally, the proposed government tax increase is expected to impact Alko product prices starting from the beginning of 2024. Alko aims to maintain transparency in its pricing structure.

In honor of Meatless October's tenth anniversary, three cow sculptures have appeared at Rautatientori, challenging the public to engage in a conversation about the environmental impact of dairy production. Flora Plant B+tter, a leading plant-based butter brand, aims to draw attention to the effects of dairy farming on our planet.

Meatless October has gained significant attention in recent years for shedding light on the environmental impact of the meat industry and prompting consumers to reconsider their dietary habits.

The Malmi social and health care centre in Pietarsaari on 18 June 2023. According to STT, 13 of Finland’s well-being services counties have launched or are planning to launch consultative negotiations to reduce costs and meet the financial requirements imposed by the central administration. (Timo Jaakonaho – Lehtikuva)

A BIT OF A REBELLION against the spending cuts the government has forced on well-being services counties is brewing in Vantaa and Kerava.

Timo Aronkytö, the director of the well-being services county of Vantaa and Kerava, told Helsingin Sanomat on Monday that the county intends to devise a budget with a deficit of tens of millions of euros for next year.

Signs at the Vaalimaa border crossing station in Virolahti, Finland, in July 2022. Three Finnish companies are among the companies added to the export control list of the US Department of Commerce on 27 September. Some of the 28 additions were made based on suspected attempts to supply drone components to GRU, the foreign intelligence arm of the Russian Ministry of Defence, according to Reuters. (Jussi Nukari – Lehtikuva)

THREE FINNISH COMPANIES are set to be added to the entities list of the US Department of Commerce, reports Reuters.

The Department of Commerce on Monday announced export restrictions on a total of 28 companies, accusing some of them of attempts to supply drone components to GRU, the foreign intelligence arm of the Russian Ministry of Defence.

Customer at the Employment Service Center in Pasila's TE Office in Helsinki. LEHTIKUVA

The labor movement in Finland has engaged in a prominent battle against the government's labor market reforms. Various measures and actions are taken nearly every day. So far, these actions have been more moderate than the rhetoric from labor leaders, and hopefully, they will remain so in the future, writes Mikael Pentikäinen, CEO of the Federation of Finnish Enterprises.

A customer going into an unemployment office in Pasila, in Helsinki. LEHTIKUVA

After a period of uncertainty, job growth in Finland has returned, with 45,000 more people employed in August than the previous year. However, unemployment has quietly crept up, indicating a significant increase. Despite a historically high number of job openings, this is not all good news, as persistent job vacancies also highlight labor market mismatches.

According to Statistics Finland, there were 2,662,000 employed individuals in August, which is 45,000 more than the previous year.

Photo: mariya_m

In collaboration with the Environmental Health Services of Hyvinkää City, the Central Uusimaa Environmental Center, and the Environmental Health Services of Vantaa City, Helsinki City's Environmental Services conducted a study between 2022 and 2023 to assess the microbiological quality of hamburger or sandwich fillings in fast-food restaurants and the cleanliness of restaurant surfaces.

The construction site of a wooden single-family home. Finnish building construction companies have continued to enter bankruptcy proceedings at nearly unprecedented rates, indicate data published by Statistics Finland. (Markku Ulander – Lehtikuva)

THE STRUGGLES of building construction companies exacerbated in August.

Statistics Finland has reported that bankruptcy proceedings were initiated last month against 42 building construction companies, representing a new high for what has already been a year of hardship for the sector.