Tripartite working groups to prepare the Government’s labour market reforms outlined in the mid-term policy review session
On 20 May 2025, the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment appointed three working groups to prepare the measures agreed by the Government in its mid-term policy review session in spring 2025. The working groups will prepare measures concerning the board-level employee representation, the Act on the Protection of Privacy in Working Life, and the time for taking carried-over holiday entitlement.
Scope of application of board-level employee representation to be extended
The provisions of the Act on Co-operation within Undertakings on personnel representation in administration currently apply to companies employing at least 150 employees in Finland. In its mid-term policy review, the Government decided to lower the threshold to companies with 100 employees. As per the mid-term policy review, board-level employee representation must take place in the board of directors or senior management group.
The task of the working group is to implement the changes in the board-level employee representation decided by the Government in its mid-term policy review session. The term of the working group is 20 May−31 December 2025. The working group consists of representatives from the Confederation of Finnish Industries EK, the Confederation of Finnish Industries EK/Service Sector Employers Palta, the Federation of Finnish Enterprises SY, the Central Organisation of Finnish Trade Unions SAK, the Finnish Confederation of Professionals STTK, and the Confederation of Unions for Professional and Managerial Staff in Finland Akava.
Employers to decide when employees can take carried-over holiday
Currently, employees are allowed to take their carried-over holiday entitlement whenever they choose. If it is not possible to agree on a more precise timing of carried-over holiday, the employee must give notification about taking the holiday no later than four months before it starts.
In accordance with the decision made at the mid-term policy review session, employers would in future decide when employees may take their carried-over holiday entitlement, the same way as in the case of other annual holidays, unless otherwise agreed.
The task of the working group is to prepare the required legislative amendments. The term of the working group is 20 May−30 November 2025. The working group consists of representatives from the Confederation of Finnish Industries EK, the Federation of Finnish Enterprises SY, the Local Government and County Employers KT, the Ministry of Finance/Office for the Government as Employer, the Central Organisation of Finnish Trade Unions SAK, the Confederation of Unions for Professional and Managerial Staff in Finland Akava, the Finnish Confederation of Professionals STTK and a joint representative of the employee confederations.
Legislation on privacy protection in working life to be clarified
The Act on the Protection of Privacy in Working Life lays down provisions on the processing of personal data concerning employees, the performance of tests and examinations on employees and the related requirements, technical surveillance in the workplace, and the retrieving and the opening of employees’ electronic mail messages.
In its mid-term policy review, the Government agreed to make the legislation governing the protection of privacy in working life clearer. This will entail examining the need to amend the Act and exploring whether it is possible to repeal the extra regulation in place in Finland that creates an administrative burden.
The term of the working group is 20 May–12 September 2025. The working group will produce a report on the possible needs to amend the Act on the Protection of Privacy in Working Life. Based on the report, the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment will decide on further measures. The working group consists of representatives from the Confederation of Unions for Professional and Managerial Staff in Finland Akava, the Central Organisation of Finnish Trade Unions SAK, the Finnish Confederation of Professionals STTK, a joint representative of the employee federations, the Confederation of Finnish Industries EK, the Federation of Finnish Enterprises SY, the Local Government and Country Employers KT and the Ministry of Finance/Office for the Government as Employer.
Inquiries:
Nico Steiner, Senior Ministerial Adviser, Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment, tel. +358 295 049 001 (changes to board-level employee representation and the taking of carried-over holiday)
Elli Nieminen, Chief Specialist, Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment, tel. +358 295 047 056 (assessment of amendments to the Act on the Protection of Privacy in Working Life)