Page 33 - Annual Report 2016-2017

REPORTS FROM NATIONAL MEMBERS 33
Construction site of the Mall of Tripla, Helsinki near the headquarters of the SFNC associa- tions. Photographer: Helena Hagberg.
Working Hours Act is based on labour protection in Finland. The Act is currently under review and it is an important goal to ensure that experts and managers will continue to have labour protection. The present law does not recognise mobile and exible ways of working. The most common regular working hours are 7,5 hours per day and 37,5 hours per week. The law obliges employer to monitor the actual working hours and their compensation.
Lobbying activities on Educational Policy have been of importance, since some of the higher education institu- tions have faced layoffs and there are several mergers or HE institutions. The associations were active participants in the creation of the Vision for Education and Research 2030, a project coordinated by the Ministry of Education and Culture. In 2017 Finland celebrated its 100 years on independence and will continue to value education and learning, knowledge, science and technology using them for the bene t of people and society.
en an improved selection of summer jobs, internships and thesis projects, thus giving them a better start in their careers. Unfortunately, international students still struggle to nd employment after graduation and even during their studies.
New services to attract members
There is a continuing challenge of convincing particularly the young engineers to join the engineering associations and stay as members. In order to create more added value for the members, there are new or enhanced membership bene ts: housing loan and daily banking services, events for families, networking opportunities, peer support groups for the unemployed, mentoring, courses and workshops. This has been achieved by applying service design and lean thinking, utilizing digital tools and platforms as well as co-creating services together with the members.
Collective bargaining and lobbying activities
The new collective labour agreements for senior salaried employees were agreed in the technology industry, design and consultancy sector, IT service sector, chemical industry, ICT sector and architectural design sector at the end of 2017. In accordance with the new agreements, salary increases were mainly negotiated locally between employers and shop stewards.
Working Hours Act is based on labour protection in Finland. The Act is currently under review and it is an important goal to ensure that experts and managers will continue to have labour protection. The present law does not recognise mobile and exible ways of working. The most common regular working hours are 7,5 hours per day and 37,5 hours per week. The law obliges employer to monitor the actual working hours and their compensation.
Lobbying activities on Educational Policy have been of importance, since some of the higher education institu- tions have faced layoffs and there are several mergers or HE institutions. The associations were active participants in the creation of the Vision for Education and Research 2030, a project coordinated by the Ministry of Education and Culture. In 2017 Finland celebrated its 100 years on independence and will continue to value education and learning, knowledge, science and technology using them for the bene t of people and society.