Observation (CEACR) - adopted 1988, published 75th ILC session (1988)

Human Resources Development Convention, 1975 (No. 142) - Finland (Ratification: 1977)

Further to its previous observation, the Committee takes note of the report transmitted by the Government as well as the information communicated to the Conference in 1984. The Committee has also taken due note of the comments of the Finnish Employers' Confederation (STK), the Employers' Confederation of Service Industries (LTK) and the Confederation of Salaried Employees in Finland (TVK).

1. The Committee recalls the previous comments of the STK and the LTK calling for the development of tripartite co-operation on vocational guidance and training in accordance with Article 5 of the Convention. It notes now the STK's statement that such matters have increasingly been dealt with on a tripartite basis; however, the STK and the LTK consider that employers' realistic demands and statements have not been taken into account. In the Government's view, the labour market parties have the opportunity to take part in the planning of vocational guidance and education in accordance with the Convention. The Committee recalls that, under Article 5, policies and programmes for vocational guidance and training should be formulated and implemented in co-operation with employers' and workers' organisations, amongst others. It hopes that all parties concerned will endeavour to ensure that the necessary co-operation is achieved, and that the Government will provide all due information in future reports.

2. The Committee recalls that the Central Organisation of Finnish Trade Unions (SAK) has previously opposed the provision of part of vocational training at the workplace, where it may be more narrow and less well supervised. The TVK now observes that the goals of educational reform have not yet been reached, and some employers have misused the apprenticeship training scheme as a means of obtaining cheap labour; the TVK also considers it should be better supervised. The STK and LTK, however, favour a permanent increase in practical training at the workplace under the until now temporary training contracts system. The Government has stated that the practical training system is due to be established in 1988. The Committee considers that the apparently differing views on this question should also be the subject of the co-operation referred to in Article 5 of the Convention, as a means of ensuring that these measures of vocational training form an integral part of overall policies and programmes within the terms of Article 1 of the Convention. It hopes that the Government will provide further details of the practical effect of this aspect of its vocational training strategy.