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The Committee notes the information provided by the Government in response to its previous request, as well as the comments by the Central Organization of Finnish Trade Unions (SAK) and the Confederation of Unions for Academic Professionals in Finland (AKAVA) appended to the Government's report.

1. The Committee notes with interest that the Study Leave Act of 1979 was amended in 1997 to enable workers employed for short periods to take educational leave. The Committee also notes that the provisions which introduced the job alternation leave experiment have been extended until the year 2000 and that the level of financial compensation has been increased. The AKAVA nevertheless considers that job alternation leave is only rarely used for the purpose of training.

2. The Committee notes that, while the Government does not have complete statistics in this regard, it was estimated in 1997 that only 1 per cent of workers had taken paid educational leave under the Act of 1979. The SAK states that the number of grants for adult education had decreased by one-third, after having peaked between 1992 and 1993. The SAK attributes this decrease in the number of beneficiaries to a cut in the level of financial support which it considers is not "adequate" within the meaning of the Convention. The Government indicates that its objective is to ensure the income security of students in so far as the budgetary situation allows. The Committee would be grateful if the Government would indicate any new measures adopted with a view to ensuring regular financial arrangements for paid educational leave, in accordance with Article 7 of the Convention.

3. The Committee notes that the AKAVA considers that the three constituent parts of continuing education for adults respond to different needs, but should be better coordinated. The SAK refers to the discussions which are under way between the Government and the social partners regarding "training guarantees". The Committee requests the Government to provide full information in this regard, by specifying the manner in which it takes account of the provisions of Articles 4 and 6 of the Convention.