Observation (CEACR) - adopted 1990, published 77th ILC session (1990)

Discrimination (Employment and Occupation) Convention, 1958 (No. 111) - Finland (Ratification: 1970)

The Committee notes the comments made by various employers' and workers' organisations which were forwarded with the Government's report.

The Committee notes the wish stressed by the Finnish Employers' Confederation (STK) and the Employers' Confederation of Service Industries (IKK) to respect tripartite co-operation in the future also in the field of discrimination. These organisations also note that discriminatory action by employees is still excluded from punishment in Finnish legislation.

The Committee notes that the Central Organisation of Finnish Trade Unions (SAK) has stated that in discrimination cases, employers should have the burden of proving that their action was based on a factor other than sex. SAK also considers the clear division between women's and men's occupations prevailing in the labour market to be a problem. In its opinion, training paid for by the employers seems to focus on men.

The Committee notes the statement of the Confederation of Salaried Employees (TVK) that Finnish legislation probably corresponds to the provisions of the Convention but that in practice equality between the sexes is not implemented, as shown by the fact that wages of women are still only 75 per cent those of men. The TVK says that investigation of wage discrimination based on sex has not been carried out, making it difficult to remedy this de facto discrimination.

The Committee notes these comments and asks the Government to continue to furnish information in its reports on measures taken to give effect to the Convention. Additional points have been raised in a request addressed directly to the Government.