Finnish unions, employers agree crisis proposals over coronavirus
Finnish trade unions and employers on Wednesday agreed measures to support the labour market and promote temporary changes in legislation to shore up the weakening economy, they said in a joint statement.
“The troubles of companies are here and now. Businesses need ways to cope with the corona crisis,” said Jyri Hakamies, the head of industry federation EK.
The package – which needs to be approved by the centre-left government – includes measures such as shortening the duration of lay-off talks and a reduction in employers’ pension contributions by a total of 910 million euros ($985 million) this year.
By law discussions about proposed lay-offs in Finland have to last at least 14 days. Under the agreement struck on Wednesday this period would be reduced to five days.
The reduction in employers’ pension contributions would be taken from the buffer of the occupational pension scheme, currently at around 7 billion euros, and employers’ contributions would be increased between 2022 and 2025 to rebuild the buffer.
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