CEO of the Confederation of Finnish Industries (EK) Jyri Häkämies said on Thursday that he saw the Service Union United's (PAM) decision to enter further negotiations on the so-called social contract as a positive move and that talks should take place soon as possible.
On Thursday PAM announced it will continue negotiations on a labour market accord aimed at reducing employers’ labour costs and boosting their competitiveness - and make a final decision in May.
PAM said that the union is prepared to engage in further talks – but with very strict conditions that include improving the status of part-time workers.
The business organisation's Häkämies said any future agreement should be as comprehensive as it is now.
The Transport Workers' Union AKT and some affiliated members of the labour market organisation SAK said that they would not be participating in the deal.
"We discussed at length how comprehensive the deal should be but we decided to recommend that negotiations should start," Häkämies said.
