MINISTRY OFSOCIAL AFFAIRS AND HEALTH

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The role of social partners in Finland

Esko Salo

Ministerial Counsellor, Legal Affairs

9.2.2007

MINISTRY OFSOCIAL AFFAIRS AND HEALTH

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Background In Finland

over 70 % of employees are members in trade unions three trade union confederations and one

confederation of employers federations long tradition of making incomes policy agreements differences in society are small

MINISTRY OFSOCIAL AFFAIRS AND HEALTH

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The role of labour market organisations unemployment benefits are often one part of the incomes policy

agreements labour market organisations are playing part in the legislative process employers and employees have an important role in the financing representatives of the labour market organisations are as members in

the Unemployment Security Appeal Bord and in the Insurance Court unemployment funds, which are administering earning-related

unemployment allowance, are operating in connection with the trade unions

MINISTRY OFSOCIAL AFFAIRS AND HEALTH

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Weaknesses laws are mostly compromises process is often very slow and heavy in the incomes policy agreements unemployment benefits

are only a small part and not the most important

MINISTRY OFSOCIAL AFFAIRS AND HEALTH

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Advantages if all have similar views on a matter, it goes fast forward big reforms are possible without any problems unemployment insurance system is wide accepted in the parliament the drafts of a proposed law are accepted without

changes labour market organisations have a lot of information about working

life taking part in financing prevents the increase in expenditure trade unions co-operation with the unemployment funds improves the

administering of the unemployment allowance