Helsingin Sanomat has ordered a poll from TNS Gallup regarding Finns’ opinions on working life measures to improve Finland’s competitiveness. Finns would be ready to give up at least one working life benefit to create new jobs. The majority think that the best way to do this would be to give up raises for a year. More than half of the respondents also support cutting holiday pay by a third and extending annual working time by 24 hours without raising salaries. The least popular way to reduce employers’ costs is cutting evening and Sunday extras, the respondents found.

Media:  Helsingin Sanomat

The Finnish Forest Industries says Finland can affect the competitiveness of domestic industry with its own decisions. The organisation maintains it is essential for the forest industry that the emissions trade compensation scribed in the government programme be fully put to use. The purpose of the compensation is that energy-intensive industries can be reimbursed for the expense increases caused by the EU emissions trade. If the compensation will be implemented only partially, Finnish industries will become less competitive in the future.

Media:  Verkkouutiset

Date: 29.3.2016

Journalist: Heikki Jantunen

Main source: Finnish Forest Industries

Verkkouutiset writes that Interior Minister Petteri Orpo visits Ukraine this week and familiarises himself with Finland’s participation in civilian crisis management operations. There are over 30 Finns who work for OSCE and EU operations in Ukraine. The goal of the EU operation is to support and assist in reforming the Ukrainian security sector, and strengthen anti-corruption work in the Ukrainian government. The EU operation is a part of the EU’s common foreign and security policy.

Media:  Verkkouutiset

Date: 29.3.2016

Journalist: Heikki Jantunen

Main source: –

Finland’s Prime Minister Juha Sipilä writes in Maaseudun Tulevaisuus about Finnish farmers’ plight. The situation is severe, for example, due to the removal of milk quotas in the EU, weak economic situation and the counter sanctions from Russia. The farmers’ message at the tractor demonstration was clear, PM Sipilä writes, and says that they will react to the situation and do everything they can to facilitate the situation. The European Union’s agriculture ministers met early this week, and solutions were expected to the difficult market situation. Some important issues for Finland progressed there, PM Sipilä says. A positive issue is that the reduction of agriculture bureaucracy was emphasised at the meeting. In this, the EU still has a lot of work to do.