CMNT_TITLE

Part-Time Work Convention, 1994 (No. 175) - Finland (RATIFICATION: 1999)

Other comments on C175

Direct Request

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Articles 9 and 10 of the Convention. Measures to facilitate access to part time work and to ensure voluntary transfer from full-time to part-time work. The Committee notes the Government’s explanations that two differing trends can be observed with regard to part-time work; in many fields, part-time work is a positive opportunity in terms of promoting employment and lengthening working careers, especially for young workers, childcaring parents, and long-term unemployed. In other areas, however, there is a significant amount of involuntary part-time work owing to factors such as strong fluctuation in demand. The Government adds that part-time work is most frequent in the retail trade and in catering and the proportion of part-time employment is approximately 14 per cent.

In addition, the Committee notes the comments of the Central Organization of Finnish Trade Unions (SAK) which alleges that while Chapter 2, section 5 of the Employment Contracts Act (55/2001), as amended, requires an employer to offer additional jobs to his/her part-time employees if the employer needs more employees for tasks that would suit his/her part-time employees, does not function in practice, because in employment contracts, employees are increasingly expected to consent to short-term additional work, making it more difficult to reconcile work and free time. In its reply, the Government indicates that the tripartite working group of the Ministry of Employment and Economy, which examined questions related to part-time work from September to December 2012, considered the possibility of a priority arrangement in the distribution of additional work but noted that problems linked with offering additional work can probably not be resolved through legislation. The Government further indicates that the law requires employees to be treated even-handedly and without discrimination and these obligations need to be followed also when additional work is offered. The Committee requests the Government to continue to supply information on the evolving patterns of part time employment, in particular any measures or initiatives designed to improve job opportunities for those trapped in involuntary part-time work.