Decent work in Finland?

The youth members of the Central Organisation of Finnish Trade Unions - SAK, the Finnish Confederation of Professionals - STTK , and of the Confederation of Unions for Professionals and Management Staff - Akava organised a media event in Helsinki's city centre during the World Day for Decent Work on 7 October.

During the campaign day in Helsinki, employment was sought for 26 year old Ville Karhu, who has been unemployed since June. Ville did in fact find work during the action day. Ville had previously reacted to a job announcement in the database of the Ministry of Labour Employment Service, and in the course of the action day the employer called to Ville and recruited him to commence as a tire fitter in November.

Finland's unemployment rate is currently close to 9%, and is expected to raise in to beyond 10% during the year 2010. The youth unemployment rate is currently close to 22%.

As elsewhere in Europe, also in Finland the category of precarious workers is growing.

- We as unions must keep up our efforts to work towards securing the rights of precarious workers. So STTK proposes a "holiday bank". Normally a precarious workers will be payed out annual vacation benefits in the form of money. STTK proposes for a holiday bank in which a worker can collect his vacation days and use them for a true holiday, says Jarno Kaukola, chair of the student union of STTK.

But the action on the World Day for Decent Work was also about pressing for the rights of all "Villes" in the world to decent work, as defined by the basic workers rights of the ILO. The day is organised by the International Trade Union Confederation ITUC, of which SAK, STTK and Akava are members.

This year some 40,000 foreigners have come to work in Finland, estimated senior officer Olli Sorainen of the Ministry of Labour on 7 October in Finland's largest national newspaper Helsingin Sanomat.

Especially in the construction sector, guest workers from for instance Estonia face precarious work relations. Instead of being paid according to a collective labour agreement, foreigners will end up working for the minimum wage, unlike the Finns.

- The same stands also for foreign workers in the health sector. They will not always be aware of how labour issues are organised here, and as such end up being taken advantage of, explains Jarno Kaukola.

- Besides the fact that we as unions must do our best to reach out to these workers, also citizens, co-workers must address the issue as it is in their very own interest that all be working for the same wages, continues Kaukola.

(SASK / Ruby van der Wekken)