Council of the EU to discuss Directive on improving position of trainees

The EU’s Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council will meet in Brussels on 2 December 2024. Minister of Employment Arto Satonen will represent Finland at the meeting.

At the meeting, the Council will discuss the Commission’s proposal for a Directive to improve the working conditions of trainees in employment relationships. Its purpose is to combat contractual employment relationships disguised as traineeships and to ensure that trainees have just terms of employment, including pay, in relation to other employees. The Hungarian Presidency of the Council aims to reach a general approach (an agreement of a majority of Member States) to amendments to the proposed Directive. 

Finland considers the Directive’s objective of improving the status of trainees in contractual employment relationships important. During the negotiations, Finland has emphasised the powers of Member States in national education systems, respect for the role of the social partners in agreeing on terms of employment as well as the need for a clear scope of application. The negotiations have progressed into a direction favourable to Finland.

“In Finland, contractual employment relationships already provide security for all employees, including trainees in such a relationship. Moreover, the pay of the trainee has already been agreed on in the collective agreement. The terms of employment of trainees deserve the same protection in all Member States,” says Minister of Employment Arto Satonen.

The European Parliament has not yet started debating the proposed Directive, which means that the views of the Commission, the Council and Parliament must still be harmonised in trilogue negotiations. Following its entry into force, Member States would have two years to transpose the Directive into their national law.

Solutions to demographic challenges also on the agenda

The Council will hold a policy debate on comprehensive solutions to demographic challenges. These are demographic changes that may put increased pressure on societies in terms of their economies, social cohesion or politics. Such challenges include ageing of the population, falling birth rates or migration.

Finland faces the same demographic challenges as other EU Member States. Minister of Employment Satonen emphasises a solution-oriented approach.

“We aim to respond to these challenges comprehensively in Finland. For example, we are targeting measures at the ageing population to ensure they can remain active and maintain their functional capacity,” Satonen says.

The ministers will also discuss the priorities in employment and social policy in the framework of the European Semester. 

The Council aims to adopt conclusions on:

• combating labour and skills shortages in the EU
• fostering social inclusion of persons with disabilities
• improving access to services to promote the social inclusion of people at risk of exclusion, including Roma
• ensuring work-life balance and gender equality in the context of demographic challenges, and 
• strengthening mental health of women and girls.

Inquiries:
Jaakko Aromaa, Special Adviser to the Minister of Employment, tel. +358 295 047 110 
Anna Toni, Senior Specialist, Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment, tel. +358 295 047 361 (Directive on Traineeships) 
Riikka-Maria Turkia, Chief Specialist, Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment, tel. +358 295 047 135 (Coordinator for Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs)
Ville Korhonen, Senior Ministerial Adviser, International Affairs, Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, tel. +358 295 163 010 (demographic challenges)