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The Committee notes the detailed information supplied by the Government in its last report and notes with interest the entry into force of the reform of the pensions scheme, which also covers public sector workers. The Committee notes in particular the existence of early and deferred old-age pensions and partial retirement pensions, for workers in both the public and private sectors, and the invalid's early allowance, established on an individual basis, for 16-64 year-old persons with decreased functional capacity who do not receive a disability pension. The Committee also notes the various amendments to the survivors' benefit scheme (PEL and TEL).

The Committee hopes that these reforms will enable workers engaged in occupations that are arduous or unhealthy to receive old-age benefit before the age of 65 years, in accordance with Article 15, paragraph 3, of the Convention, and in the conditions laid down by this instrument, despite the fact that public sector workers in such jobs are no longer entitled to old-age pension before 65 years of age and despite the amendments planned for raising gradually by the year 2002 the minimum age for entitlement to a pension for certain other categories of workers (for example seafarers).

The Committee has also noted the observations presented by the Finnish Employers' Confederation (STK), the Employers' Confederation of Service Industries (LTK), the Central Organization of Finnish Trade Unions (SAK) and the Confederation of Salaried Employees (TVK).