Finland – A labor pact could be clinched

Finland’s government sees good prospects for unions and employers’ representatives to reach a comprehensive labor reform deal next week, Economic Affairs minister Olli Rehn said on Friday.

A handful of Finnish unions have opposed a proposed labor pact, a centerpiece of government efforts to haul the economy decisively out of recession by making exports more competitive.

Rehn, in an interview with Reuters Global Markets Forum, said: “We have a good chance of concluding the comprehensive deal next week, and we are working on that.

“The unions and business lobbies have continued talks this week on a new wage talks model where the export sector, rather than the public sector, will in future set the basis for annual wage rounds.Rehn said if all unions agreed, the government could sweeten the deal. “That facilitates withdrawing the conditional expenditure cuts and provides pretty good conditions for compensatory tax cuts.”

Chosen excerpts by Job Market Monitor. Read the whole story at  Finnish labor deal could be clinched next week: Rehn | Reuters