Antti Palola (right), the chairperson of the Finnish Confederation of Salaried Employees (STTK), and Petteri Orpo (NCP), the Minister of Finance, took part in a working life-themed cruise from Helsinki to Tallinn on 23 March, 2018.
Antti Palola, the chairperson of the Finnish Confederation of Salaried Employees (STTK), has expressed its disapproval with a government decision to allow employers to hire under 30-year-old job seekers who have been unemployed for at least three months on fixed-term contracts without having to provide justification for the fixed term.
The proposal is not only unfair for young people, it is also unlikely to promote employment in Finland, views Palola.
“The only consequence will be an increase in short-term jobs, and that will cause growing uncertainty, insecurity and outright fear of the working life among young people. The decision's effects on daily life will include later family formation. This, in turn, will be a problem in a country with a low birth rate, as well as for the dependency ratio,” he says.
STTK also reminds that both the constitution and equality act stipulate that no one should be placed in a different position because of their age without sufficient grounds.
Palola believes the labour market position of young people should contrastively be strengthened.
“We have proposed, for instance, that working life information be part of the curriculum already in primary schools. This would improve the capacity of young people to transition to the working life and would also be in the best interests of employers,” he tells.
The Finnish government has also come under criticism for its decision to make it easier for businesses with fewer than 20 staff to make redundancies.
“STTK is of the opinion that the government’s attitude is a sign of arrogance,” slams Palola. “It is because of the poor quality of recruitment and management if the earlier decisions to lengthen the trial period and shorten the re-employment obligation have not made it easier to hire employees.”
Revising the provisions on unilateral termination could also erode the growth aspirations of businesses and employee commitment to small businesses, warns STTK.
“Creating a culture of fear to rule is an old-fashioned approach that belongs to a bygone world. It is not a means to improve employment and competitiveness in Finland,” summarises Palola.
Service Union United (PAM) on Sunday announced two of its district organisations are considering organising a political strike in protest of the outcomes of what was the final framework session of the government of Prime Minister Juha Sipilä (Centre).
Aleksi Teivainen – HT Photo: Jussi Nukari – Lehtikuva Source: Uusi Suomi
