Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2022, published 111st ILC session (2023)

Paid Educational Leave Convention, 1974 (No. 140) - Finland (Ratification: 1992)

The Committee notes the observations of the Federation of Finnish Enterprises (SY), the Central Organization of Finnish Trade Unions (SAK), the Finnish Confederation of Salaried Employees (STTK), the Confederation of Unions for Academic Professionals in Finland (Akava) and the Confederation of Finnish Industries (EK), transmitted together with the Government’s report.

Articles 3 and 4 of the Convention. Measures to promote the granting of paid educational leave. Coordination of general policies with the policy to promote the granting of paid educational leave. The Committee notes with interest the series of measures taken by the Government to reform the adult education allowance system in 2020 with a view to promoting wider use of the study leave system and support employees’ ability to harmonize work and studies. In this respect, the Government indicates that the Act on Adult Education Benefits (1276/2000) (formerly the Adult Education Support Act) was amended during the reporting period by Acts (450/2020), (228/2020) and (521/2018). The Government adds that the provisions on adult education support and income-matching were amended as of 1 August 2020, with the aim of encouraging more work-based learning than previously. The condition for granting adult education support was changed and is now a requirement linked to study performance instead of being tied to the duration of studies. The Government specifies that the level of employee support was also reduced slightly by modifying the support calculation formula. The Government adds that, as of the beginning of 2019, the Education Fund merged with the Unemployment Insurance Fund. The new fund is now called the Employment Fund and is the entity responsible for paying adult education grants in the future. The Committee further notes the observations of the Central Organization of Finnish Trade Unions (SAK), the Finnish Confederation of Salaried Employees (STTK) and the Confederation of Unions for Academic Professionals in Finland (Akava), who point out that the reforms to the system of adult education allowances were based on unanimous proposals made by the social partners. The workers’ organizations indicate that the objectives of the reform were to improve employee’s ability to balance work and studies, as well as to encourage less educated employees and those in low-income sectors to develop their competences. They add that they are currently participating in the preparation of reforms in relation to the continuous learning system. The objective of this reform is to develop an employment-driven range of education applicable to continuous learning, as well as to develop lifelong guidance services and a proactive approach to competence needs in working life. The Committee also notes the observations made by the Federation of Finnish Enterprises (SY), who points out that, while the changes introduced to the adult education allowance system have addressed a number of problems, other significant shortcomings in the adult education system remain. In particular, the SY observes that self-employed persons and entrepreneurs do not enjoy access to adult education allowances under conditions similar to those of persons considered to be employees. It considers that the rules unnecessarily put employees and entrepreneurs in an unequal position, considering that the latter should also have the opportunity to reconcile work and studies with the support of the adult education allowance. The Committee notes the detailed statistical information, disaggregated by age and sex, provided by the Government regarding the number of persons that benefited from paid educational leave during the reporting period. The Government reports that, between 2018 and 2020, 77,615 persons benefited from paid educational leave, the majority of whom were women (76 per cent in 2020). In this context, the Committee notes the observations of the Confederation of Finnish Industries (EK), who points out that adult education support is most frequently used by highly educated employees and women. The EK adds that the proportion of men – especially low-skilled workers – in adult education is regrettably low. The Committee requests the Government to provide detailed updated information on the impact of the reform of the adult education allowance system, including statistical information, disaggregated by age and sex, on the number of workers who have benefited from the various arrangements for paid educational leave (for the purposes of vocational training, general, social and civic education, and trade union education). Noting the low number of men that have benefited from adult education allowances, the Committee encourages the Government to take measures to promote their equal access and use of adult education allowances, particularly among those in low-skilled jobs. The Committee also requests the Government to provide its views concerning the observations of the Federation of Finnish Enterprises (SY). It further requests the Government to provide updated information on the nature and impact of the reforms to the continuous learning systems, as well as with respect to any other legislative and policy developments relevant to the application of the Convention.