Minister Lindström: Important to promote diversity in working life
Minister of Employment Jari Lindström and the social partners met in Helsinki on 30 May 2018 to discuss measures to promote diversity in working life.
“It is important to promote diversity in working life because it will make it easier for immigrants to integrate and find employment in Finland. Diversity will also give wings to business growth and internationalisation,” Minister Lindström says.
Minister Lindström and the social partners strove to identify measures the state, companies and social partners could deploy separately and jointly to create a more welcoming working life.
“We had a good discussion, which no doubt will continue. There are already many different kinds of measures in place to improve the labour market status of immigrants, but there is also need for further investment,” Minister Lindström sums up the discussion.
The meeting was attended by representatives from the Confederation of Finnish Industries (EK), the Central Organisation of Finnish Trade Unions SAK, the Finnish Confederation of Professionals STTK, the Confederation of Unions for Professional and Managerial Staff in Finland, and the Federation of Finnish Enterprises. The discussion was introduced by Diversity & Inclusion Specialist Sara Salmani from Miltton Oy and Research Director Marjut Jyrkinen from the multidisciplinary WeAll research project.
Minister Lindström and the social partners also heard representatives from companies who described their experiences and measures to promote diversity. These representatives were HR Consultant Escocia Nsuku from Lassila & Tikanoja, HR Manager Camilla Weurlander from Ikea Oy and Head of People Operations Hanna Puura from BlueFors Cryogenics Oy.
Making the Finnish labour market more open and international is one of the goals of Talent Boost – International talents boosting growth, a joint cross-sectoral programme for the Government. The attitudes, non-discrimination and diversity of working life have an impact on the ability of international talents to find employment, their willingness to stay in Finland and how attractive they consider Finland.
Inquiries:
Jami N. Arvola, Special Adviser to the Minister of Employment, tel. +358 50 4471 255
Anna Bruun, Ministerial Adviser, tel. +358 29 50 48254