Ann Selin, the chairperson of Service Union United (PAM), has warned that strikes and protests will follow if the government proceeds with its proposal to increase the powers of employers.
Finland will face a series of political strikes if the government moves ahead with its proposal to make it easier for small businesses to lay off employees, warns Ann Selin, the chairperson of Service Union United (PAM).
“We’re campaigning to make sure these don’t become bills. If that ends up happening, I’m pretty sure that political strikes or at least protests will follow,” she said on YLE A-Studio on Thursday.
PAM has expressed its vehement opposition to the decisions made by the government last week to increase the powers of employers. The government decided, for example, to make it easier for small businesses to lay off staff on personal grounds and allow businesses to hire under 30-year-old unemployed job seekers on fixed-term contracts without justification. The objective of the measures is to encourage hiring and raise the employment rate in Finland.
Selin told YLE that political strikes and demonstrations have been less common in Finland than in Central Europe.
“Now that the government seems to be working in a way that shows disregard to the voice of employees and tries to erode their protection with all means possible, it’ll inevitably unleash a number of protests,” she predicted.
She also rejected the justification for the measures. A German study, she pointed out, found no correlation between an increase in fixed-term employment and improvement in the national employment rate.
“If you ask for justification, there is none. It’s embarrassing that such policies are being pursued in Finland,” said Selin.
Aleksi Teivainen – HT Photo: Handout/PAM Source: Uusi Suomi
