Study Visit to Finland: Social services, workforce challenges and social dialogue

From 25 to 27 November partners from Romania, France, Greece, Luxemburg, Spain, Belgium, Malta and Cyprus met in Finland for a study visit hosted in Tampere and Helsinki by Tukena and Hyvinvointiala Hali ry (Hali). The visit provided valuable insight into Finland’s social services landscape, workforce challenges, and approaches to social dialogue and led to fruitful exchanges between participants.

At Tukena, a Finnish non-profit organisation dedicated to improving the lives of people with intellectual disabilities and their families, participants learned about Finland’s socio-economic landscape, including workforce shortages and regional inequalities. Care organisations continue to struggle with financial pressures and at the same time staff shortages.

The second day focused on labour market challenges and Super and JHL. Despite the constitutional right to care, financial constraints have led to unmet support needs, layoffs, and increasing psychosocial risks for workers, addressed at local level and with the support of a tripartite organisation called Center for occupational safety.

Hyvinvointiala Hali ry (Hali), the Finnish Association of Private Care Providers, and member of the Social Employers, provided an overview of the private care sector, representing 1,500 organisations and over 100,000 workers. Discussions covered collective agreements, quality of care, and how employers and unions maintain constructive dialogue.

Thank you both to Tukena and Hali for organising and making this visit insightful and productive.