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Helena-Reet Ennet

Helena-Reet Ennet
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Language Report discusses the realisation of linguistic rights

By
Helena-Reet Ennet
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NordenBladet — In its Plenary Session today, on 9 December, the Government decided to submit the Government Report on the Application of Linguistic Rights to Parliament. The Language Report, compiled during each electoral term, contains up-to-date information on the situation in Finland in terms of languages, structures supporting linguistic rights and the impact of administrative changes on language groups.The main themes of the Language Report of 2021 are digitalisation and the realisation of linguistic rights in teaching, in the police and rescue services and in emergency response centre activities. An analysis of how linguistics rights are realised when a private operator carries out public tasks is also included.– Linguistic rights are fundamental rights and they are well protected by law. However, there are still shortcomings in how the rights are being realised in practice. To make sure that these rights are duly respected we need better awareness, changes in attitudes, more staff with adequate language skills and ways to organise services in different languages, says Minister of Justice Anna-Maja Henriksson.– Key questions in the Language Report include the differences in access to services in Finnish and Swedish and supply and proper functioning of interpretation services. Safeguarding linguistic rights should be taken into account already when planning the operations so that they are put to practice as part of the regular service process, Minister Henriksson continues. Adequate information on the needs and good planning and design of the services are seen as the key measures to ensure the realisation of linguistic rights.

Source: Valtioneuvosto.fi

Government Resolution on drug policy for 2021–2023 adopted

By
Helena-Reet Ennet
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NordenBladet — The Government Resolution on drug policy will continue national cooperation in preventing drug-related harm. The Resolution was adopted on 9 December 2021.Drug prevention work will be improved through a multidisciplinary approachThe drug policy emphasises the importance of early intervention through official multidisciplinary measures in the problems of young people with a view to preventing drug addiction, criminal behaviour and social exclusion. Drug prevention work will be improved through a multidisciplinary approach for various age groups. The Action Plan on Alcohol, Tobacco, Drugs and Gambling will prioritise better recognition of experimenting with drugs and development of small-scale intervention models.Client-centred approach and accessibility in substance abuse servicesThe health and social services reform will assign substance abuse services to the responsibility of wellbeing services counties. Substance abuse services will be improved by reforming legislation to provide substance abuse and mental health services to those who need them on an equal footing with other client and patient groups. The preparation of this legislation will accommodate a client-centred approach, access to and accessibility of services, quality of services and targeting of services on groups that are vulnerable for various reasons.Reduction of harmMeasures to reduce the harm caused by drug use support the wellbeing of drug users and the security of the environment. The availability of low-threshold health and social counselling services for drug users will be improved and the establishment of permanent health counselling for drug users will be ensured as part of the health and social services reform. Prevention of drug-related crime is based on cooperationEfforts will be made to restrict the supply of drugs through optimal efficiency in detecting and investigating drug-related offences. Control of drug-related crime will be based on the joint multidisciplinary information-driven work of public authorities and on analysed data. Close international cooperation and exchanges of information will also help to ensure effective enforcement of criminal liability in cross-border drug offences.

Source: Valtioneuvosto.fi

Government report on human rights policy stresses the universality of human rights and strengthening of equality

By
Helena-Reet Ennet
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NordenBladet — The Government’s human rights policy report stresses action to strengthen equality and gender equality. Finland rejects attempts to undermine the universality of human rights, democracy and the rule of law.The Government approved its human rights policy report on 9 December 2021. The report sets out the international human rights work of Finland, and guides activities at national and EU level together with the National Action Plan on Fundamental and Human Rights. The guiding effect of the report covers several years, with human rights policy reports issued no more frequently than once during the term of office of each government.The report considers activities at the national, EU and international levels in parallel. Its specific themes are promoting fundamental and human rights in sustainable development, mitigating climate change and protecting biodiversity, digitalisation, access to information, and communications. The report stresses action to defend and strengthen the rule of law.Human rights and the rule of law are facing challenges in several countriesThe report finds a sustained deterioration in the situation for human rights and democracy in dozens of countries, with challenges to progress towards the rule of law. Features of growing authoritarianism include restrictions on freedom of expression and civic activity, and trampling on minority rights. Behaviour that challenges the universality of human rights is becoming increasingly visible, including in UN human rights bodies.“Finland and the European Union will stand by our own values and defend universal human rights, democracy and the rule of law. These are an integral part of the international rules-based system. We need regulations that apply to all countries, enabling a response to cross-border issues such as climate change and digitalisation,” explains Pekka Haavisto, Minister for Foreign Affairs.Finland’s international human rights work will emphasise gender equality and the rights of indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities and sexual and gender minorities, together with the rights of the Roma when working in the European context.“Non-discrimination and the realisation of gender equality are fundamental and human rights issues of particular importance to us. They are an integral part of international human rights law, and basic pillars of our society. Their realisation requires not only a policy to reduce inequality, but also reinforced participation rights for disadvantaged groups and individuals,” Minister Haavisto continues.Fundamental and human rights can also be strengthened nationallySection 22 of the Constitution of Finland enjoins public authorities to ensure the realisation of fundamental rights and human rights. National implementation of the human rights policy report will stress support for non-discrimination, gender equality and the rule of law. The report sets out Government measures concerning issues on which Finland has received numerous recommendations from human rights treaty monitoring bodies, human rights rapporteurs of the UN and European organisations, and country assessments of Finland’s human rights situation. These issues include the status of the Sámi as an indigenous people, violence against women and domestic violence, and gender recognition legislation that respects the right to self-determination.The report addresses measures to strengthen the rule of law nationally and internationally. Finland will continue its work to realise the rule of law throughout the European Union.Sustainable development and digitalisation as new themes in fundamental and human rightsThere is a close link between fundamental and human rights and sustainable development. Climate change and loss of biodiversity are jeopardising the realisation of fundamental and human rights, and their importance as a human rights issue has grown. The report stresses the principle of ’no one left behind’, and the partcipation rights of civil society as part of sustainable development.The growth and acceleration of new technology, digital services and communications are creating conditions for monitoring and enforcing fundamental and human rights, and for the functioning of civil society. On the other hand, evolving technology has the potential to infringe fundamental and human rights more broadly in such areas as the protection of privacy and participation rights. The report stresses a lessening of inequality and greater accessibility as part of developing and deploying new technologies and digital services.Government report on human rights policy in Finnish and in Swedish

Source: Valtioneuvosto.fi

Model for cooperation between authorities in a financial crisis revised

By
Helena-Reet Ennet
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NordenBladet — The authorities have agreed on information exchange and other cooperation in areas involving the prevention, management and resolution of financial market crises.The revised Memorandum of Understanding on the management of financial crises has been signed by the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, the Financial Supervisory Authority, the Bank of Finland and the Financial Stability Authority.The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aims to strengthen the crisis management capabilities of the authorities by ensuring that the parties exchange information as required by the crisis. In addition, the authorities seek to establish more efficient and systematic cooperation in order to optimally prevent, manage and resolve financial crises.Cooperation in normal conditions and disruptionsThe previous MoU was signed in 2007. Since then, financial market legislation and the structure of authorities have changed significantly. In connection with the revision work, the authorities noted that the cooperation model outlined in the MoU will continue to provide a good framework for flexible cooperation – both in normal conditions and in the event of disruptions.In normal times, the authorities use the MoU to maintain and improve crisis management preparedness. They will also follow the MoU in situations where the stability of the financial markets is at risk, or severe disruptions in the financial system could be expected.Parties will exchange information and improve preparednessThe parties will work together to improve their preparedness for mutual cooperation and their ability to manage crises affecting the financial system. Forms of cooperation includeregular exchange of information on the current situation in the domestic financial and insurance markets, developing the analysis methods needed to forecast and deal with crises, and developing operational capabilities and preparedness, andorganising exercises to enhance capabilities for cooperation in crises.The Memorandum of Understanding is not legally binding, nor does it affect the parties’ statutory obligations or powers.

Source: Valtioneuvosto.fi

Kari Anttila appointed State Secretary to Minister Harakka

By
Helena-Reet Ennet
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NordenBladet — On Thursday 9 December, the Government appointed Kari Anttila (MSc Education) State Secretary to Minister of Transport and Communications Timo Harakka until 10 June 2022 or the end of Minister Harakka’s term of office.Prior to his appointment as State Secretary, Kari Anttila had served as Secretary-General to the Social Democratic Parliamentary Group since June 2015. He has also served as State Secretary to Minister Pia Viitanen, among other positions.State Secretaries assist ministers in matters related to political steering and preparatory work. They also assist and represent the ministers in the drafting of policy outlines and in interministerial coordination, harmonising of policy positions, implementation of the Government Programme in the minister’s administrative branch, and handling of EU and international affairs.

Source: Valtioneuvosto.fi

Water services tasks to South Savo Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment

By
Helena-Reet Ennet
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NordenBladet — In accordance with the amendment to the decree approved by the Government on 9 December 2021, the tasks laid down for the Centres for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment in the Water Services Act will be placed at the South Savo Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment. These tasks are mainly related to different types of controls.The aim is to provide the Centres for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment with better opportunities to carry out the controls and promote the objectives of the Water Services Act. The purpose of the Act is to ensure water services that provide an adequate supply of clean and safe drinking water with respect to health and other factors, proper sewerage systems in terms of health and environmental protection. The aim is, in particular, to strengthen the preparedness for incidents and emergencies through harmonised control actions, implement renovation investments and improve data management and data security.The amendment to the decree will enter into force on 1 January 2022.

Source: Valtioneuvosto.fi

Base rate is kept at −0.50 percent

By
Helena-Reet Ennet
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NordenBladet — The Ministry of Finance has set the base rate to −0.50 percent as of 1 January 2022 until the end of June 2022. The base rate has been at −0.50 percent since 1 January 2021.The base rate, calculated twice a year, is determined based on the average for the 12-month market interest rate quoted over the three months prior to the rate being set. The Ministry of Finance sets the base rate to the nearest one quarter of a percentage point.

Source: Valtioneuvosto.fi

Finnpartnership’s new, revised programme period to be begin – Support for companies aiming for developing markets

By
Helena-Reet Ennet
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NordenBladet — The terms and conditions of Business Partnership Support for Finnish companies aiming for developing markets to change on 1 January 2022. Services offered to companies and the effectiveness of the programme will be developed during the new three-year programming period.Finnpartnership’s new three-year programme period will begin on 1 January 2022. Finnpartnership is a business partnership programme under the Ministry for Foreign Affairs that helps Finnish companies and other actors launch long-term business in developing countries. The programme provides financial support, training, as well as advisory and information services on preparing profitable and responsible business. Starting from 2006, Finnpartnership has provided support for more than 1,000 Finnish companies targeting developing markets. The key objective of the programme is to achieve development impacts as a result of profitable, sustainable and responsible business operations. Development impacts include decent jobs, services for poor people, technology and competence transfer, increased equality, and environmentally-friendly and climate-friendly solutions.“Finnish companies have a lot of the competence needed for addressing the needs of developing countries and promoting the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. During its new programme period, Finnpartnership will be better placed to support the access of companies to developing markets, “says Minister for Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Ville Skinnari.During the new programme period, Finnpartnership’s activities will be reformed. The aim is to develop the services offered to companies, increase the impact of the programme and improve the efficiency of the programme’s administration.Key reforms include:Services for companies will be developed. In particular, country-level services will be increased by recruiting experts to Kenya and Vietnam to support the team working in Finland.The impact of the programme will be increased by focusing services to projects that have the prerequisites for significant development impacts. In particular, cooperation between companies and organisations will be promoted.Closer cooperation with other financial instruments, such as the Developing Markets Platform (DevPlat) and the Public Sector Investment Facility (PIF). The objective is the provision of more seamless financial services for companies. The general terms and conditions for Finnpartnership Business Partnership Support for the programme period 2022-2024 and an application notice have been published in Finnish on the Finnpartnership website. The application notice will be published in English before 1.1.2022. Supported enterprises are required to promote human rights and comply with the principles of corporate social responsibility. In order to achieve more efficient and sustainable results, companies are encouraged to enter into partnerships with NGOs, research institutes and educational institutions.Finnpartnership is part of the Team Finland network, which promotes the success of Finland and Finnish companies globally. Finnpartnership engages in close cooperation with Business Finland and Fingo, the umbrella organisation for Finnish development NGOs.The support services for the Finnpartnership programme are provided by the Finnish Fund for Industrial Cooperation Ltd (Finnfund). Finnfund is a Finnish development financier whose mission is to create a better world by financing responsible companies in developing countries. At the commission of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, Finnfund is responsible for the implementation of the Finnpartnership Programme and also assists Business Partnership Support applicants in matters related to applying for and implementing support.Finnpartnership
Ministry for Foreign AffairsEnquiries:Team Leader Antti Piispanen, Ministry for Foreign Affairs, tel. + 358 40 134 5930, [email protected]Programme Director Birgit Nevala, Finnpartnership (Finnfund), tel. + 358 44 357 0811, [email protected]
 

Source: Valtioneuvosto.fi

Working group report on legislative amendments concerning working conditions and variable hours contracts sent out for comments

By
Helena-Reet Ennet
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NordenBladet — The purpose of the proposed amendments is to make working conditions more predictable and to improve the position of those employed under a variable hours contract. This was brought on by the implementation of the EU Directive on Transparent and Predictable Working Conditions and the Government decision to improve the status of employees in temporary employment and on zero-hours contracts. The proposed legislative amendments have been prepared in tripartite consultation.The Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment is requesting comments by 21 January 2022 on the working group’s report, which contains a draft government proposal. The proposed amendments would implement the changes required by the Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on Transparent and Predictable Working Conditions in the European Union (working conditions directive). They would also drive the achievement of the Government Programme objective of more stable working hours in variable hours contracts (so-called zero hours contracts). Affected legislation would include the Employment Contracts Act and the Working Hours Act. The proposed acts are scheduled to enter into force on 1 August 2022.EU working conditions directive requires amendments to national legislationAlthough the existing regulations in Finland already widely cover the requirements of the working conditions directive, the directive will, however, necessitate some changes in matters such as written reports on working conditions, training offered to employees and shift planning in variable hours working arrangements.Proposed key amendments to the Employment Contracts Act:The employer’s duty to provide a written report of the conditions of employment would be extended to cover shorter employment relationships than is currently the case. The Directive would add to matters to be covered in the report the employee’s right to training, arrangements for overtime work and overtime compensation, and social security that the employer is required to provide.If the employer is obligated by law or a collective agreement to offer training to an employee, provisions would be laid down to make this training free of charge to the employee. In addition, the time spent on training should be counted as working time and, where possible, training should be provided during regular work shifts.In future, the employer should, at the request of an employee working on a fixed-term or part-time basis, provide a written and well-grounded response to the employee’s request to extend the regular working hours specified in the employment contract or the duration of the employment contract.The proposed amendments to the Working Hours Act deal with variable working hours arrangements. The Act would lay down provisions on situations in which the employee’s consent is required for assigning a work shift. In addition, when a shift is cancelled 48 hours before the start of the shift, the employee would have to be paid a reasonable compensation for any inconvenience caused by the cancellation, unless such compensation would otherwise be paid based on law or an agreement.The Government aims to improve the position of employees in temporary employment and on zero-hours contractsThe working group’s report also includes proposed amendments based on the Government Programme, according to which legislative measures will be taken to ensure more stable working hours for persons on variable hours contracts.Stricter obligations would be imposed on the employer to review the conditions for variable working hours. The employer would be required to assess, at least every 12 months, whether the working hours specified in the employment contract were in line with actual hours worked. If the actual hours worked during the review period and the employer’s need for labour indicate that the number of minimum working hours could be increased, the employer should offer the employee an agreement to change the working hours to match the results of the review. In practice, this would mean an increase in the number of minimum working hours.Proposals for legislative amendments prepared in tripartite working groupsThe working group preparing the implementation of the directive on working conditions started its work on 5 November 2020. The working group included representatives from the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment, the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, the Office for the Government as Employer, Local Government and County Employers KT, the Confederation of Finnish Industries, the Federation of Finnish Enterprises, Central Organisation of Finnish Trade Unions (SAK), the Finnish Confederation of Professionals (STTK), Confederation of Unions for Professional and Managerial Staff in Finland (Akava) and the Commission for Church Employers.The amendment to the Employment Contracts Act, which is based on the Government Programme, has been prepared in a tripartite working group operating under the Ministerial Working Group on Promoting Employment. Its sub-group has representatives from the same parties as the working group preparing the implementation of the directive on working conditions.The working group’s report includes a joint statement by the Confederation of Finnish Industries EK, Local Government and County Employers KT, and the Commission for Church Employers, a statement by the Federation of Finnish Enterprises, and a joint supplementary statement by the Central Organisation of Finnish Trade Unions SAK, the Finnish Confederation of Professionals (STTK) and Confederation of Unions for Professional and Managerial Staff in Finland (Akava). In addition, appended to the report is a supplementary statement by the Finnish Confederation of Professionals (STTK) on the provision for the stabilisation of variable working hours.After the consultation round, the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment will continue to prepare the government proposal.

Source: Valtioneuvosto.fi

The Riigikogu approved state budget for 2022

By
Helena-Reet Ennet
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NordenBladet —

59 members of the Riigikogu voted in favour of the passing of the State Budget for 2022 Act and 37 were against.

According to the State Budget for 2022 Act (464 SE), the volume of the revenue of the coming year’s state budget is 13.132 billion euro, the volume of expenditure 13.633 billion euro, and the volume of investments is 724 billion euro. The volume of expenditure will exceed the volume of revenue, but the structural position has improved compared to both last year and the state budget strategy for 2022–2025. Defence spending accounts for 2.3 per cent of GDP, and research and development expenditure for one per cent.

The next year’s budget allocates 2.78 million euro for regional investments. During the third reading, funds were added for increasing the competitiveness of the maritime sector and continuing the support measure for international passenger shipping.

The Government has set following of three main directions the aim of the state budget – getting the daily expenditure of the state under control, investing into people, and ensuring a rapid a sustainable development for Estonia.

Next year’s state budget is expected to ensure emergence of the Estonian society and economy from the coronavirus crisis, and to make the economy future-proof. Besides emerging from the crisis, long-term goals are also focused on by moving towards structural balance of the budget. When drafting the state budget, the Government took into account its priorities: rapid exit from the COVID-19 pandemic, supporting the mental and physical health of people, financial sustainability, education and innovation, green economy, pro-active foreign policy, national defence and reducing regional inequality.

Drafting of the state budget for 2022 was based on the State Budget Strategy 2022–2025, Action Programme of the Government of the Republic, recommendations of the European Commission given within the framework of the European Semester and the summer economic forecast of the Ministry of Finance.

Source: Parliament of Estonia

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