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ESS: EK boss calls for continued pay restraint

Last autumn’s pay deal, which offered workers a pay increase of just 20 euros per month, could be replicated in future years if the Confederation of Finnish Industries has its way. That’s the line offered by a senior EK figure in an interview with Lahti daily Etelä-Suomen Sanomat (ESS).

Lasse Laatunen.
Lasse Laatunen. Image: Yle

Lasse Laatunen, who serves as the director of labour and social legislation for EK, told ESS that he believes moderate pay deals should continue in the coming years. He claims that such a tight wages policy is the only option if Finland is to be as competitive as Sweden and Germany.

"If 2013 marked the beginning of stability, then five years is the minimum," said Laatunen.

At the same time, Laatunen re-emphasised that the employers’ side does not generally regard central, economy-wide pay deals, covering the whole labour market, as positive. In Laatunen’s view they are only really necessary in ‘crisis situations’.