NordenBladet — Due to the progress made in coronavirus vaccinations and the improved epidemiological situation, demand for labour is on the increase and the labour market is expected to grow sharply already this year. The employment rate will surpass the pre-epidemic level in 2023, but the number of unemployed jobseekers will remain above the level preceding the epidemic.

On 2 June 2021, the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment published a labour market forecast until 2023. The forecast is based on the assumption that the restrictions on mobility and business activities can be lifted by autumn.Number of employed people not to reach pre-epidemic level until 2023According to the labour market forecast, the employment rate will rise to 71.2% this year and to 71.8% next year, thereby surpassing the level preceding the epidemic. Due to the declining population, the number of employed people will not exceed the pre-epidemic level until 2023. The number of people employed is estimated to total 2,535,000 in 2023. Due to the break in the time series of the labour market survey, the employment rate series is currently about one percentage point lower than before.Finland’s unemployment rate is forecast to remain at 7.7% this year as those outside of the labour force will begin to look for work. As more unemployed people find work, the rate is expected to fall to 7.3% in 2022 and to 6.7% in 2023.

Labour supply to return to pre-epidemic level already this year
The labour market forecast also examines the supply of labour, that is, the total number of employed and unemployed people. The labour force participation rate is estimated to rise to 65.9% this year, which will be sufficient to restore the amount of the labour force to pre-epidemic level despite the decline in the population. In 2021, the labour force will grow by around 15,000 people, and in 2022 by about 4,000 people. In 2023, the labour force is not forecast to grow because the working-age population shrinks.

Following the Government’s decision to increase work-based immigration, a larger number of such immigrants is likely to show in the population projections and the forecasts on the size of the labour force in the coming years. In addition, the Government’s objective to increase the number of foreign students who stay in Finland after graduation will probably show in the labour force forecasts at some point, but not yet in this forecast period.

Number of registered unemployed jobseekers to fall in 2021 while long-term unemployment to peak in early 2022
The number of registered unemployed jobseekers and young jobseekers in the Employment Service Statistics will begin to fall in 2021 as coronavirus-related restrictions are gradually lifted. In 2022 and 2023, their number will continue to decrease, but will remain at a higher level than before the epidemic. The average number of unemployed jobseekers will be 318,000 in 2021, 284,000 in 2022 and 267,000 in 2023.

Meanwhile, there will be 39,000 young unemployed jobseekers in 2021, 33,000 in 2022 and 30,000 in 2023.

The number of long-term unemployed is forecast to increase during 2021 and to peak at the beginning of 2022, after which it is projected to fall as a result of the general positive trend in the number of registered unemployed jobseekers. According to the forecast, the number of long-term unemployed will total 111,000 in 2021, 115,000 in 2022 and 100,000 in 2023.

The short-term labour market forecast of the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment is based on a statistical time-series analysis that makes use of economic indicators, labour market statistics and policy information, as well as the Ministry of Finance’s GDP forecast and the demographic forecasts of Statistics Finland. The forecast is published twice a year.

NordenBladet — The Ministry of the Interior has published a programme for police traffic enforcement and traffic safety for 2021–2030. The programme aims to reduce traffic fatalities, serious injuries, traffic accidents and traffic offences, as well as transportation crime and the grey economy in commercial traffic.

Although road safety has improved in the long term, the number of traffic deaths has not decreased in line with the goals in recent years. According to Statistics Finland, 221 people died in traffic accidents last year, compared with 211 in the previous year. This means that were more traffic deaths last year than in 2019.

”The aim of the police traffic enforcement and safety programme is to reduce traffic fatalities and serious injuries in particular. This requires effective and efficient measures to maintain and improve traffic safety,” says Chief Superintendent Jari Pajunen from the Ministry of the Interior.

The programme describes the road traffic operating environment and the current state of traffic safety and explains factors and measures affecting safety in order to maintain and promote traffic safety. In particular, the programme emphasises the role of cooperation in ensuring traffic safety.”Cooperation and the exchange of information with the police, other authorities involved in road safety, as well as organisations and municipalities, for example, is very important. It is also absolutely essential that citizens want to cooperate with the police in order to promote traffic safety,” Pajunen continues.

The aim is also to combat the grey economy and traffic offencesTraffic enforcement is a key measure for the police to influence traffic safety and traffic offences. However, the fight against traffic offences also requires other comprehensive and well-targeted actions. ”The programme aims to reduce the grey economy in commercial transport, prevent, detect and investigate traffic offences and transportation crime as well as submit such case to prosecutors for the consideration of charges. Achieving this goal requires effective exposure and prevention measures,” Pajunen says.

The programme does not assess the organisation or resourcing of police traffic control and safety work. The National Police Board is responsible for implementing the measures stated in the programme.

“We have established a multidisciplinary working group in the National Police Board, where we look at the roles of different operating sectors of the police in traffic safety work. In the working group, we will draw up an action and development plan for traffic control and safety by the end of this year in order to implement the programme. In the future, the aim is also to measure the effectiveness of police traffic control and communications even more accurately,” says Assistant Police Commissioner Hannu Kautto, who is responsible for traffic safety work at the National Police Board.

The Ministry of Transport and Communications is currently preparing a national traffic safety strategy. The Ministry of the Interior and the National Police Board are involved in the preparation of the strategy.

Further information:
Chief Superintendent Jari Pajunen, tel. +358 295 488 576 (Police Department of the Ministry of the Interior);
Assistant Police Commissioner Hannu Kautto, tel. +358 295 481 866 (National Police Board)

NordenBladet — Finland, as the driving force behind the International Year of Plant Health 2020, has also been crucially involved in the production of one of its key legacy accomplishments – the development of a scientific review study “Climate-change impacts on plant pests: a global challenge to prevent and mitigate plant-pest risks in agriculture, forestry and ecosystems”.

The publication of this study was launched in Rome on June 1st by the Director-General of FAO, Mr Qu Dongy, with the participation of the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry of Finland, Ms Jaana Husu-Kallio. The high-level launch event was live-streamed by FAO and the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC).

The scientific review study, which was originally suggested and supported by Finland, was prepared by Prof Maria Lodovica Gullani from the University of Turin and ten internationally recognized scientists. The study aims to deepen the understanding of the impacts of climate change on the infectivity, distribution and severity of plant pests and diseases, and tries to trigger international collaborative action to mitigate increased risks.

In her speech at the launch event, Ms Husu-Kallio focused in particular on the impacts of climate change and plant health on food security and consequently peace. She noted that food is a universal human right while emphasizing the role of food security as a determinant of peace. “The absence of food security may ultimately result in the deterioration of global security, eventually corroding peace on all levels – nationally, regionally and globally. Climate change and plant health are two of the main threats to a food-secure world, and both are standing at the centre of our efforts to establish sustainable food systems around the world” Ms Husu-Kallio concluded.

NordenBladet — The Ministry of Education and Culture and the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare have updated the guidelines on how to prevent coronavirus infections in connection with public events and gatherings and when using public premises.

NordenBladet — The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health is continuing to prepare legislation on the self-determination of clients and patients. A roadmap extending beyond the term of the current Government will also be drawn up to strengthen client and patient participation and rights, and a broad-based monitoring group will be appointed to support this work.

The reform seeks to amend legislation in order to realise the self-determination of clients and patients. Practices are also being developed to increase client and patient participation and reduce the use of restrictive measures.

Legislation will be reformed in stages
The work of preparing this legislation will be done in stages due to the breadth of its subject matter.

The first stage will be a reform of legal remedies for involuntary medication in psychiatric care. The outdated Act on Welfare for Substance Abusers will also be repealed and its current regulation governing involuntary care will be updated, and the autonomy regulation of the Act on Special Care for People with Intellectual Disabilities will be included in relevant statutes.

The intention is to submit a Government bill on the first stage of amendments to Parliament in summer 2022.Roadmap for strengthening client and patient rightsLegislative reforms and enhancement of practices will continue in future government terms. A roadmap will be drawn up in support of the reform to guide work over the long term and over several terms of government.The intention is to appoint a broad-based monitoring group during the summer to assist in preparing the reform.

NordenBladet — The Ministry of Justice has opened an application process for actors representing civil society and its research to the Advisory Board on Civil Society Policy KANE. The application is open from 1 June to 20 August 2021. The advisory board will now be appointed for the fourth four-year term 2021–2025.

Registered associations in the industries specified in the Decree on KANE are eligible to apply for membership. Furthermore, parties representing free civic activities and civil society research may also apply for membership of the advisory board. When the application period ends, the Ministry of Justice will evaluate the applications and submit a proposal to the Government on setting up a new Advisory Board on Civil Society Policy. The Government is scheduled to appoint the advisory board for a four-year term in autumn 2021. The tasks of KANE, operating in connection with the Ministry of Justice, include promoting the interaction between administration and civil society and enhancing the operating conditions for civil society. The advisory board consists of representatives of civil society, research, business sector, ministries and other public agencies.

NordenBladet — Mikko Heinikoski will begin as Special Adviser to Minister of Employment Tuula Haatainen on 1 June 2021.

Prior to his appointment, Heinikoski worked as Head of Education and Employment at the Central Organisation of Finnish Trade Unions (SAK) from 2017. He also has work experience from other trade unions, including RIA, which represents construction engineers and architects, as well as the Finnish Confederation of Professionals (STTK).  Heinikoski will assist the Minister of Employment especially in matters relating to employment, employment services and the financial administration of companies. Heinikoski comes from Kuivaniemi in North Ostrobothnia and holds a Master’s degree in Social Sciences.  Other Special Advisers to Minister Haatainen are Jenni Karjalainen and Timo Nevaranta. The State Secretary to Minister Haatainen is Ville Kopra.

NordenBladet — The Finnish Science Award 2021 was granted to Martti Koskenniemi, Professor of International Law at the University of Helsinki. In his research, Koskenniemi brings together in a unique way the practical understanding of international law, emanating from his diplomatic background, with wide-ranging theoretical thinking and critical examination. Over the past three decades, Koskenniemi has significantly influenced the theoretical discussion in the field of international law.

Martti Koskenniemi (born in 1953) is one of the founders and Director of the Eric Castrén Institute of International Law and Human Rights at the University of Helsinki (since 1997). Koskenniemi served as Academy Professor in 2005–2009 and 2013–2017.

“At a time when the principle of ‘might is right’ seems to prevail in international relations and world politics, it has become more imperative than ever before to resolve issues by means of international law. Since Koskenniemi’s work is broad-based, he has been able to focus on questions that have been overlooked within the traditional doctrine of international law. Koskenniemi’s examination shows that international law can easily limited to being an instrument of power politics or utopian idealism,” said Minister of Science and Culture Antti Kurvinen.

Minister Kurvinen presented the award at the Science Forum held on 1 June. The Finnish Science Award is granted to a Finland-based researcher or research group in recognition of significant scientific achievements. The award is granted by the Ministry of Education and Culture based on the proposal of the Board of the Academy of Finland.

The Science Award, which amounts to EUR 100,000, was established in 1987 and is granted every second year. This was the thirteenth time it was awarded, taking place during the Science Forum. This year, the Science Forum forms part of the national Year of Research-Based Knowledge.

Grounds for the awardAfter completing his law studies at the University of Turku, Koskenniemi made rapid headway in the diplomatic corps. His interest in international law, and especially in the critical theory of the researchers at the University of Harvard, led him to publish his doctoral thesis in 1989. In his dissertation, he showed how argumentation in international law invariably branches out into non-judicial directions. His research soon became a classic and reached a wide audience around the world.

For the professorship of international law at the University of Helsinki, Koskenniemi qualified with his research on international sanctions. The work was awarded with the K.G. Idman Prize. Koskenniemi concentrated on researching the idea of international law: how it has evolved and how it eventually lost credibility. By this second comprehensive international monograph, Koskenniemi ultimately became one of the leading researchers in the field worldwide.

Koskenniemi is widely published, including monographs, edited books and a substantial number of articles. Critical theory has made it possible for Koskenniemi to focus on questions that have been disregarded within the traditional doctrine of international law. Koskenniemi’s examination demonstrated that international law can be a delicate subject that easily remains an instrument of power politics or utopian idealism. International law is used to operate in an imperfect world.As a researcher, Koskenniemi has always also embarked on examining new issues boldly, such as his interest in the politics of international law and the early European roots of international law.

Over the past thirty years, he has contributed to the theoretical discussion within the framework of international law in many ways. His studies have inspired many researchers of the younger generation from across the world, and as a critical researcher by nature, Koskenniemi does not hesitate to take part in public debate.Koskenniemi’s influence is manifest in practical terms too. He is a member of the International Law Commission of the United Nations, and an eminent report on the fragmentation of international law was prepared under his leadership for the organisation in 2006.

Koskenniemi has held visiting or part-time professorships at the University of Cambridge, the Université libre de Bruxelles, New York University, the University of Melbourne and the Université de Paris I (Panthéon-Sorbonne). He holds an honorary doctorate at McGill University, the University of Uppsala and the University of Frankfurt and was invited to become a Corresponding Fellow at the British Academy and a Member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.

Related links
Programme of the Science Forum and a live webcast on the website of the Academy of Finland

NordenBladet — A new study shows that comprehensive management of climate migration requires the right approach to climate policy and support for adaptation to climate change in the form of humanitarian aid, civilian crisis management, development cooperation, education and research, but also migration policy.

Climate migration also concerns Finland
Climate change affects different regions, countries and groups of people in different and unequal ways. Prosperous and politically stable states are better equipped than poor and fragile states to plan and implement the measures needed to adapt to and prepare for climate change. With this in mind, Finland and the European Union should consider the climate and environmental perspective even more firmly and explicitly in development work and humanitarian aid.

Migration is a way of adapting to climate change. Most migration related to climate and environmental change takes place within countries, but climate migration also takes place across national borders. The migration routes of future climate migrants are likely to follow people’s current migration routes, including to the European Union and Finland. That said, climate change might affect the safety or attractiveness of certain routes.

The Sustainable Development Goals and the perspective of human security and human rights set the conditions for managing climate migration in migrants’ regions of origin, along transit routes and in host regions. Ordinary categories of residence permits present the most important opportunities to support the protection and adaptation of climate migrants, as the categories of international protection do not effectively respond to climate migrants’ need for protection.

New solutions must be sought at the national and international level. Alongside international cooperation and partnerships, there is a need to promote cooperation between the climate and migration sectors and between different administrative sectors in managing climate migration in Finland.The publication is part of the implementation of the Government’s plan for analysis, assessment and research for 2020.

NordenBladet — Minister of Economic Affairs Mika Lintilä will participate in a virtual Team Finland visit to China in June 2021. The aim is to strengthen relations between Finnish and Chinese companies, particularly within the low-carbon and circular economy, the bioeconomy and maritime industry.

The Minister of Economic Affairs will participate virtually in several events organised in China between 2 and 21 June, including an event of the Committee for Innovative Business Cooperation in Beijing and the Wood from Finland and Green and Smart Ships seminars in Shanghai. Dozens of Finnish and Chinese companies will attend the events. The coronavirus pandemic has caused changes to the business environment of companies. For example, the movement of people and goods has been restricted, which has made export promotion more difficult.  The activities of the Team Finland network support the internationalisation of Finnish companies in a challenging situation, both in the target market and online.

Team Finland is a network of public sector operators providing internationalisation services to Finnish companies.