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.
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.
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.
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]
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.
NordenBladet — The Government proposes a new temporary section (48a) for the Communicable Diseases Act, under which healthcare and social welfare service providers, i.e. employers, could be required to ensure that their employees do not pose a risk of COVID-19 infection to the persons they are caring for.The section would provide that employees with inadequate vaccination coverage against COVID-19 could work with clients and patients only in exceptional circumstances. The proposed regulation would also apply to public officials and officeholders.If a person had a medical reason for not getting vaccinated against COVID-19, they could, according to the proposal, work if they presented proof of a negative COVID-19 test taken no more than 72 hours prior to working.Employers would have the right to process health data concerning the COVID-19 vaccination coverage of their employees or their employees’ recovery from COVID-19. The data should be stored for as long as is necessary to carry out the supervision of healthcare and social welfare services, but for no longer than three years from the date on which the assessment on the suitability of the person was made. If the employee did not meet the statutory requirements, the employer would, primarily, need to offer the employee equivalent work in accordance with their employment contract, or if this is not possible, other suitable work. If there was no suitable work available or the employee refused to accept it, the employer would not be obligated to pay the employee a salary for the period during which they could not work, unless otherwise agreed. The amendment would require a transition period of one month to ensure that employers could organise their services properly and to give unvaccinated employees the opportunity to get vaccinated. The employer’s right to process data would, however, enter into force immediately.It is proposed that the provision enter into force as soon as possible and remain in force until 31 December 2022.
NordenBladet — The demand for natural products is expected to grow globally. Natural raw materials are expected to generate significant business activities because their economic potential has not yet been fully realised.The turnover of companies in the natural products sector and companies utilising natural products in their business decreased slightly in 2020 compared to the previous year. These are the conclusions of the sector report on the natural products sector published by the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment on 8 December 2021.“The growth of the natural products sector both in Finland and internationally is based on growing trends, such as organic origin, responsibility, safety, ecology, health promotion, and the Nordic and Arctic origin. The coronavirus pandemic has strengthened trends related to the growth of the natural products sector. The interest in the nature’s effect on health and wellbeing makes natural products and nature tourism destinations more attractive,” says Sirkku Wacklin, Sector Manager at Ostrobothnia’s ELY Centre.There are approximately 770 companies operating in the natural products sector with a total turnover of EUR 780 million in 2020. More than 70 per cent of the companies in the sector are micro-sized companies that mostly employ between one and five people. The combined turnover of companies in the natural products sector and those utilising natural products in their business increased until 2019, but it fell slightly in 2020 amid the coronavirus epidemic. The decline was caused in particular by a lower turnover of tourism companies and providers of wellbeing services and products.Approximately 2,700 people work in natural product companies. Foreign pickers of natural products also constitute a significant part of the sector’s workforce. In recent years, the number of foreign pickers has varied between 2,500 and 4,300. Companies in the berry sector are highly dependent on foreign labour, because foreign pickers pick 80–90 per cent of the berries for companies engaged in wild berry trade. The new Act on the legal status of foreigners picking natural products reduces the risk of exploitation and creates a more equal competitive environment for companies.Growth in the natural products sector is restricted by availability and consistent quality of raw materials. Finland’s strengths as a producer of natural products lie in extensive picking areas, excellent nutritional value of raw materials and the reliability of origin and supply. Digitalisation and the platform economy enable new types of networking and business. Being organic is a way to create added value for natural products.The natural products sector refers to activities related to wild berries, mushrooms, herbs and other natural products, such as the recovery of raw materials from nature and their further processing and trade. Entrepreneurship in the natural products sector can be carried out, for example, in raw material production and the food sector. Other important sectors for companies include the use of natural valuable substances, i.e. chemical compounds in the wellness, cosmetics, pharmaceutical and chemical industries and the tourism sector. The natural products sector also includes training, advisory services, development work and research.Business Sector Services are expert services provided by the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment that collate, analyse and distribute information about the operating environment for companies and the development of sectors.
NordenBladet — Facilitating the employment of persons with disabilities will be the focus of a virtual Nordic conference on Thursday 9 December. The conference will highlight new kinds of intermediate labour markets and successful experiences of employing people with disabilities through social enterprises. The agenda also includes good practices for supporting work ability for people with disabilities at workplaces.Minister of Social Affairs and Health Hanna Sarkkinen and State Secretary Ville Kopra from the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment will speak at the conference, in addition to a large number of representatives from companies and organisations. The conference is one of the working life events organised during Finland’s Presidency of the Nordic Council of Ministers. Its purpose is to promote the employment of persons with disabilities through practical experiences and good practices. The topic brings together all Nordic countries, because the obstacles to the employment of persons with disabilities are similar regardless of the country.Social economy is an opportunity to people with disabilitiesThe conference participants will also be briefed on the European Commission’s Action Plan for Social Economy, which will be published on the same day. Social economy has significant potential to improve the employment of people with disabilities too. This calls for cooperation and partnerships with public administration, organisations and social enterprises. Finland has already taken this issue forward. The promotion of social entrepreneurship is included in the Government Programme, and last spring the Government adopted a strategy for social enterprises. One of the strategy’s objectives is to employ people with partial work capacity and those who are otherwise in a difficult labour market position. A Centre of Expertise for Social Enterprises has been established to implement the strategy. Its task is to increase the number of and awareness on new social enterprises and develop their competences, especially in order to improve the effectiveness of their activities. Work and supporting work ability increase wellbeing and equalityA high employment rate and good-quality working life reduce the costs of social exclusion, unemployment and disability to society. At the same time, people’s wellbeing will be supported and equality will be increased.The Government’s objective is to raise the employment rate to 75% by the middle of the decade. The age structure of the population and, consequently, an increasingly smaller number of working-age people will aggravate the problem of prolonged unemployment and shortage of skilled labour. It is therefore important that those currently outside the labour market, including those in a vulnerable position, find work. Employing people with disabilities is a great opportunity for society that has not yet been utilised. In addition to measures that support employment, we need to prevent incapacity for work and improve productivity and wellbeing at work at the same time. Mental health must be considered a resource in working life. Employing people with disabilities and extending their working careers also require changes in attitudes. Work opportunities must be offered with an open mind.
The ongoing major structural reforms, such as the health and social services reform and the social security reform, will also boost employment. The reform of health, social and rescue services will develop a service system for supporting the work ability of working-age people. The social security reform will provide better opportunities to reconcile work and benefits in different life situations. Improving the employment rate of people with disabilities requires that working life skills are developed by adjusting work and introducing flexible work arrangements. Research data related to employment and work ability as well as an assessment of the effectiveness of the solutions are also needed for decision-making.The theme of the conference is closely related to the work ability programme, which is part of the Government’s employment measures as a whole. The work ability programme promotes the employment of people with partial work capacity and their wellbeing at work. The Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment is responsible for implementing the work ability programme in cooperation with the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health. The webcast is available online on 9 December beginning at 10.00:Promoting Employment for People with Disabilities (sourcehub.fi)Hashtags on social media are #Norden2021 #TheNordicsTogether
NordenBladet — The Nordic Welfare Forum will be held on 8–9 December 2021 as part of Finland’s Presidency of the Nordic Council of Ministers in 2021. The Forum is one of the main events in the health and social sector during Finland’s Presidency.The Forum is based on the desire to have a discussion platform which enables us to monitor developments and challenges related to wellbeing in the Nordic countries and to promote Nordic wellbeing indicators. The first Forum was held in Stockholm in 2018. This is the second time the Forum is organised.“Our changing society requires new kind of thinking, up-to-date information and knowledge-based decision-making so that we can learn from the current crises and strengthen equality and social sustainability. I am sure that the Nordic Welfare Forum will work to promote this so that our welfare states can also flourish in the future,” says Minister of Health and Social Affairs Hanna Sarkkinen.Minister Sarkkinen will open the event with her address on 8 December, and Minister for Nordic Cooperation and Equality Thomas Blomqvist will give the closing speech at the event. The event will be held in English, and it will bring together Nordic experts, decision-makers, researchers, experts by experience and public officials. Conference theme is Nordic welfare society model and social sustainabilityThis year, the Forum will focus on challenges and solutions in the Nordic countries as a result of the pressure placed on welfare systems by the COVID-19 pandemic. The Forum will address issues such as the effects of the pandemic on the welfare society model and different population groups, the rise of poverty and social exclusion, and demographic challenges.“Despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the vision of the Nordic countries, which is to become the most sustainable and integrated region in the world by 2030, is as important now than it was two years ago. If anything, the pandemic has only emphasised how important it is to actively pursue this vision. We must make determined efforts to strengthen our cooperation and promote our integration,” says Minister Blomqvist.
NordenBladet — The Prime Minister of Sweden, Magdalena Andersson, visited Finland on Wednesday 8 December at the invitation of Prime Minister Sanna Marin. During her visit, Prime Minister Andersson also met with President of the Republic Sauli Niinistö.At their meeting, Prime Minister Marin and Prime Minister Andersson discussed bilateral relations between the two countries and topical EU issues. The EU’s actions to halt climate change, for instance, are very important for both Finland and Sweden. The Prime Ministers also discussed their countries’ common objectives in developing the Union’s forest policy and security and defence policy. In addition, the Prime Ministers discussed migration and the COVID-19 pandemic in the Union.
This is Prime Minister Andersson’s first visit abroad since she began her term of office. According to tradition, Finnish and Swedish prime ministers meet shortly after taking office. Prime Minister Marin also made her first visit to Sweden.