If you want to work in Finland, especially as a foreigner, you need to know what collective bargaining agreements are and how they affect the work environment there. This article will explain what collective bargaining agreements are and how they affect things like pay, working conditions, and hours. It will also talk about some of the most important agreements in Finland.
What are Collective Bargaining Agreements?
Collective bargaining agreements are official contracts in Finland that are made between trade unions and employers or employers' associations.
These agreements spell out the minimum wage requirements for certain industries or sectors. They are usually binding, which means that all employers in the sector must follow the rules stated in them, even if they are not part of the negotiating employers' association.
Impact on Salaries
Collective bargaining agreements in Finland set the minimum wage for many job areas. Agreements lay out the minimum wage levels that employers must meet. A lot of the time, these agreements come with pay scales and pay annexes that spell out how much people are paid for different jobs and roles. The agreements set minimum conditions of employment, such as pay rates.
Working Conditions
These agreements aren't just about pay; they cover a lot of different aspects of working conditions. For example, among other things, collective bargaining agreements may cover the following aspects of work:
- Holidays and Leave: These agreements specify the entitlement to annual holidays, holiday compensation, and the terms for other types of leave, such as parental leave, sick leave, and special leave for personal reasons.
- Sick Pay: Conditions under which employees are eligible for sick pay, the amount of sick pay, and the duration for which it can be claimed.
- Job Security: Provisions related to job security, including conditions for termination, notice periods, and severance pay, if applicable.
Hours of Work
Another important thing that collective bargaining agreements cover is working hours. The agreements set limits on employees' work hours to help them balance their work and personal lives. This is especially important for foreign workers who might not know how things work in Finland.
Major collective bargaining agreements
In Finland, there are a number of important collective bargaining agreements, especially in important fields like technology and commerce.
Commerce Sector Collective Agreement
This agreement, negotiated between the Service Union United PAM and the Finnish Commerce Federation, covers around 200,000 employees. This is one of the biggest collective bargaining agreements in Finland in terms of the number of workers it works for.
Collective Agreement for the Technology Industry
This agreement covers about 90,000 workers in the technology industry. Even though it's not as big as the agreement in the commerce sector in terms of the number of workers, it's still important because the technology sector is so important to Finland's economy.
In conclusion
People from outside of Finland who want to work there need to know what collective bargaining agreements are and how they affect the job market. These agreements are the basis of Finnish labor laws. They make sure that workers in all kinds of industries get fair pay, good working conditions, and set hours.
Being aware of these agreements as a foreign worker can help you get around the Finnish workplace better and know what your rights and responsibilities are.