JHL (26.01.2018 - Heikki Jokinen) From the beginning of the year 2018 the unemployed can expect to see their benefits cut unless they are actively engaged in seeking a job. The new model was pushed through by the Finnish Government in spite of strong opposition from the trade unions.
JHL is now ready to act against the new legislation and supports the demonstration taking place in Helsinki on February 2, which is being organised by the Central Organisation of Finnish Trade Unions SAK and several trade unions.
According to the new legislation an unemployed job-seeker can lose 4.65 percent of his or her benefit if they are deemed to be less than active enough in their search for employment.
This activity is to be clearly regulated. During any three month period of unemployment the job-seeker must either find employment for at least 18 hours, earn a minimum of 241 euro as an entrepreneur or participate for five days in certain training or other services offered by the employment offices.
The JHL President Päivi Niemi-Laine says it is clear that the new legislation will do nothing to make it easier for job-seekers to find a job. The real problem is that there are seven job-seekers for every job.
– The Government and the majority in Parliament have unfairly lumped the unemployed into a single group with no regard to age, ability to work or where they may live.
– This weakening of unemployment security is aimed at people and groups that are the most vulnerable. This is very sad, she adds.
Niemi-Laine also reminds us that in 2016 the trilateral national Competitiveness Pact was accepted on the condition that there would be no more cuts to unemployment security. This agreement has now been broken as the Government has unilaterally prepared and gone ahead with the new legislation.
The demonstration against the new legislation will take place at the Helsinki Senate Square on Friday 2 Feb at 11.00 o’clock. SAK is organising free bus transport from various parts of the country to the demonstration.