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1. In its previous comments, the Committee expressed the hope that the ongoing reform of the pensions scheme 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, despite the fact that public sector workers in such jobs are no longer entitled to old-age pension before 65 years of age. The Committee notes with interest, from the Government's reply, that flexible retirement before 65 years of age is now possible for public sector employees on the same terms as for private sector employees; thus, public sector employees in arduous or unhealthy occupations have the opportunity to take an early old-age pension at age 60 and to apply for a part-time or an individual early pension at age 58. An employee qualifies for individual early pension, which is equal in size to the disability pension, if he has a long history of work and if his capacity for doing his work has decreased taking into account the strain and wear of the job and the working conditions.

2. The Committee has also noted the observations presented by the Confederation of Unions of Academic Professionals (AKAVA) and the Central Organization of Finnish Trade Unions (SAK). As these organizations express concern over the impact of the changes adopted to the employment pensions scheme, in particular on the level of the benefits, the Committee would ask the Government to supply in its next report detailed information on the incidence of such changes on the application of the corresponding provisions of the Convention, as well as the statistical information required by the report form under Article 26 of the Convention.