Observation (CEACR) - adopted 1992, published 79th ILC session (1992)

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

1. The Committee notes the Government's report, which contains information in reply to its previous observation and transmits the comments made by the Central Organisation of Finnish Trade Unions (SAK) and the Confederation of Salaried Employees (TVK) on the application of the Convention.

2. The Committee notes the developments in the field of training, including the coming into force in 1991 of the Act on Labour Market Training, the purpose of which is to promote equilibrium between the supply and demand for labour by strengthening vocational training for the adult population. In this respect, the TVK considers that, although advances have been made in training, the measures that have been taken have not been sufficient to match the fast pace of technological development. The TVK emphasises the need to devote greater efforts to the promotion of vocational training in times of increasing unemployment. The Committee hopes that the Government will continue to supply detailed information on how vocational training and guidance policies and programmes are developed that are closely related to employment. With regard to basic vocational training at the workplace, which gives concern to workers' organisations, as noted by the Committee in its previous comments, the Government states that it is now subject to the conclusion between the training institution and the employer of a training contract specifying the goals, content and duration of the training programme.

3. Further to its previous comments on the application of Article 5, the Committee notes the assurances given by the Government on the manner in which the cooperation of employers' and workers' organisations is ensured in the formulation and implementation of policies and programmes. The Government states that these organisations are associated with the work of the Committee for Manpower Services, which handles issues related to the vocational training and guidance of adults, as well as with the National Board of Education which, since April 1991, has been responsible for administering general and vocational education and under which sectoral training committees with a tripartite structure have been set up. The SAK, however, finds that the reform of the administration of education has had the effect of weakening the influence of workers' organisations in the fields of education and training. It states that the number of advisory bodies to the central administration has been cut and that representation of working life in the administration of vocational training institutions has been reduced. With reference to its previous comments and its 1991 General Survey on Human Resources Development (paragraph 105), the Committee notes that the scope and procedures for the association of the social partners with vocational training and guidance policies and programmes have been the subject for many years of criticisms by both employers' and workers' organisations. It trusts that the Government will supply full particulars in its next report on the formal consultative procedures and machinery that have been established and that it will indicate the composition of the various bodies, their competence and the frequency of their meetings.