Finnish MEP candidates back many vital employee issues

Many issues of importance to employees are broadly supported by Finnish candidates seeking election to the European Parliament. Nearly all candidates (96 per cent) responding to an SAK survey support the idea of subscriber liability, for example. In other words, they want to make businesses responsible for ensuring that their subcontractors respect proper terms of employment in the country where the work is done.

The SAK survey also indicates that most MEP candidates (78 per cent) would give the trade unions a transboundary right of legal action, enabling them to defend the rights of workers across international borders. Currently only individual employees are entitled to sue their employers for infringing minimum employment terms. Foreign workers in particular seldom have the courage to claim their rights in this way.

SAK is lobbying for the inclusion of subscriber liability and the right of action in a Services Directive that is currently under preparation.

The candidates are divided, even within their various political groupings, over the issue of labour mobility transition periods and the length of such periods. Green Party, Swedish People's Party and National Coalition Party candidates are most clearly in favour of shorter transition periods and an early shift to free labour mobility. All candidates agree, however, that supervision of employment terms must be improved in Finland to prevent the abuse of foreign workers and unlawful terms of employment.

Most of the candidates that responded to the survey feel that enterprises providing foreign labour should be required to enrol in the Finnish business tax register in order to ensure appropriate terms and conditions of employment.

EU must invest in welfare, productivity, human rights and the environment

The Finnish MEP candidates oppose the formation of low productivity labour markets within the European Union. Nearly nine out of ten respondents (87 per cent) believe that the Union would be unwise to follow the example of competing economic zones in this respect, and that it would be better to invest in higher productivity and in achieving higher income standards. This message comes across most clearly in the views of Leftist Alliance and Social Democratic Party candidates.

The candidates also disapprove of the idea that the price of European labour should be reduced in order for European Union countries to compete in world trade, for example with the Chinese. Three-quarters (77 per cent) of the survey respondents were opposed to such policies, with the strongest condemnation voiced by Leftist Alliance and Social Democratic Party candidates, and by most Green Party candidates.

Most of the survey respondents (73 per cent) felt that the Member States of the European Union should prescribe minimum taxation levels to prevent the kind of tax competition that might jeopardise the financial basis of the Nordic welfare model. Such minimum levels were most clearly supported by candidates from the Leftist Alliance and Green Party. The candidates of the Finnish Centre Party and National Coalition Party were divided on this issue.

An overwhelming 97 per cent of candidates took the view that in world trade negotiations the European Union should focus on more than merely economic interests, and should also allow for human rights and trade union rights.

Two thirds (67 per cent) of respondents believe that the European Union should set a good example by continuing to engage in emission trading, even if the USA, Russia, China and India fail to commit themselves to greenhouse gas emission limits. 78 per cent of the MEP candidates feel, however, that instead of taking unilateral measures the European Union should seek a new round of climate negotiations.

The SAK questionnaire was sent to all 159 MEP candidates representing the largest political parties. 97 of these candidates responded to the survey. The candidates are contesting a total of 14 Finnish seats in a new European Parliament due to be elected on 13 June.