Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2019, published 109th ILC session (2021)

Nursing Personnel Convention, 1977 (No. 149) - Finland (Ratification: 1979)

The Committee notes the observations of the Central Organization of the Finnish Trade Unions (SAK), the Confederation of Unions for Professional and Managerial Staff in Finland (AKAVA) and the Finnish Confederation of Professionals (STTK), received on 30 August 2018.

Article 3(1) of the Convention. Education and training of nursing personnel. In their observations, the workers’ organizations indicate that a vocational education reform entered into force at the beginning of 2018, which will fundamentally modify vocational education and training, including the training of basic nurses. The Committee requests the Government to provide its comments in this respect.

Article 7. Occupational safety and health. In their observations, the workers’ organizations refer to an amendment to the Communicable Diseases Act, which entered into force on 1 March 2018. They indicate that the amendment requires all nursing staff to receive certain vaccinations to promote patient safety, observing that employers have interpreted the amendment to mean that, if an employee refuses to be vaccinated, the employer may terminate the employee. Furthermore, the workers’ organizations allege that much of the healthcare sector implements a three-shift system, including night work. However, the possibility of reducing negative effects of night work with shift arrangements has not been utilized in a comprehensive manner in the healthcare sector. The Committee notes the concerns expressed by the workers’ organizations in respect of the working conditions of employees in the healthcare sector. They indicate that, according to a public sector survey on well-being at work (2016), 71 per cent of employees in the health sector found their work to be mentally taxing, 51 per cent found it physically taxing and 49 per cent had experienced violence or threat of violence, primarily in centralized hospital emergency units. The workers’ organizations call for more specific legislation to protect employees from these risks. In its report, the Government indicates in response to the Committee’s previous comments that occupational safety and health enforcement has targeted the healthcare sector and that reduction of physical and psychosocial load borne by healthcare sector workers, and preparing such workers for the possibility of the threats of violence were identified as key development areas for the sector. The Committee notes the Government’s indication that occupational safety and health activities in the healthcare sector have proved challenging, since the rapid pace of change in the service structure also requires reforms to safety management. The Committee requests the Government to provide its comments with respect to the observations of the SAK, the AKAVA and the STTK and to provide information on the measures taken or envisaged to ensure the health and safety of nursing personnel.