On October 15th 2023, the employees of Pilkington in Tampere marched out as a protest against the Government plans. The shop steward Sari Uusivirta (with orange vest) is worried about the situation of older employees, in particular, if the Government push through their reforms.

Cherry-picking labour laws

16.11.2023

TEXT HEIKKI JOKINEN
PHOTO JYRKI LUUKKONEN

The new Finnish right-wing Govern­ment plans radical chan­ges to labour legis­la­tion. Their grand plan is clearly desig­ned to tip the balance of power in workplaces to unila­te­rally favour employers.

Arto Sato­nen, Minis­ter of Emplo­y­ment, claims the new unjust laws are just minor chan­ges in step with other Nordic count­ries. To put it mildly, this is simply not true. On the contrary.

The Orpo-Purra Govern­ment is simply cherry-picking labour laws from other count­ries. They only selec­ted a hand­ful of such chan­ges that clearly bene­fit emplo­yers and company owners. In many cases, they modi­fied these chan­ges to be even more disad­van­ta­geous to employees.

The Swedish labour market model is based on balanced rights, a culture of nego­tia­tion and the right of the emplo­yee to be heard. All this crea­tes mutual trust which is extre­mely impor­tant when it comes to reac­hing common goals.

The Orpo-Purra Govern­ment is now taking Finland in preci­sely the oppo­site direc­tion. In Sweden, the law stipu­la­tes that in compa­nies with more than 25 emplo­yees, there must be at least two emplo­yees’ repre­sen­ta­ti­ves on the company board.

Labour law is a whole. Its compo­nent parts should be balanced. The law should protect the weaker part.

This is to give emplo­yees better access to infor­ma­tion and the possi­bi­lity to be heard, somet­hing our Govern­ment is unwil­ling to support. In Finland, in compa­nies with at least 150 emplo­yees, an emplo­yees’ repre­sen­ta­tive can partici­pate the company admi­ni­stra­tive body meeting in discus­sions concer­ning company finances and the status of emplo­yees. This is enough, the Govern­ment thinks.

Anot­her impor­tant issue is the interpre­ta­tion privi­lege. This means whoe­ver has the right to interpret rules and agree­ments in cases of dispute. In Finland, it is the emplo­yer. In Sweden, usually the emplo­yees and the local trade union branch have it.

Labour law is a whole. Its compo­nent parts should be balanced. The law should protect the weaker part. Now, the Orpo-Purra Govern­ment is trying to break these golden rules. Their policy will move us even furt­her from our Nordic neigh­bours and closer to our eastern neighbour.

 

Which side are you on?

One of the most draco­nian chan­ges the Finnish right-wing Govern­ment is plan­ning is to make dismis­sals easier for the employer.

At present, our law requi­res “rele­vant and serious grounds” for a dismis­sal. The Orpo-Purra Govern­ment will drop the serious grounds and allow rele­vant grounds as sufficient reason for dismissal.

This is clearly desig­ned to make dismis­sal easier. In law, even a simple word can make a diffe­rence and is not drop­ped without serious grounds.

The German economy has been doing well for deca­des. Yet, dismis­sal is much more difficult there than here, and no Govern­ment has attemp­ted to chal­lenge that.

The Orpo-Purra Govern­ment will drop the serious grounds and allow rele­vant grounds as sufficient reason for dismissal.

Giving long terms of notice is the norm and depends on the length of your emplo­y­ment. Firing someone needs reasons defi­ned in the law.

In Germany, in every company with more than five emplo­yees they can form a works council. The council has a lot to say in the company.

In case of dismis­sal, the works council must be heard. It will find out whet­her the dismis­sal is legal. If it disagrees, the dismis­sal is not valid and the emplo­yer can take the case to the labour court.

The radical dismis­sal policy of the Orpo-Purra Govern­ment is not based on bols­te­ring the economy, but on ideo­logy. The Govern­ment has chosen its side. Which side are you on?