Background information

In the face of rapid changes in the labour market Trade Union Pro [Ammattiliitto Pro] and the Chemical Industry Federation [Kemianteollisuus] and its’ members have included a clause on skills development into multiple collective agreements.

The clause recognises that the skill needs are dependent on factors such as the measures aiming for carbon neutrality, changes in services and production methods, technological development and the prolongation of careers. Responding to such changes requires an anticipatory approach and analysis of the future relevance and redundancy of current skills and competence. Staff with the right skill set are expected to be innovative rather than passive when faced with change.

The clause was first included in the bargaining round of 2022.

Content of measure

The clause is included in the collective agreement for salaried employees in the Finnish chemical industry [Kemianalan toimihenkilösopimus], the collective agreement for salaried employees in the ceramic glass industry [Lasikeraamisen teollisuuden toimihenkilösopimus], collective agreement for salaried employees in the shoe and leather, goldsmiths’, and brush & paintbrush industries [Kenkä- ja nahkateollisuuden ja kultaseppäteollisuuden sekä harja- ja sivellinalan toimihenkilösopimus], collective agreement for salaried employees in rubber manufacturing [Kumiteollisuuden toimihenkilöiden työehtosopimus] as well as the single employer collective agreement for the company Fiskars Finland regarding their salaried employees [Fiskars Finland Oy Ab:n Toimihenkilöitä koskeva työehtosopimus].

The clause states that during a performance appraisal or other similar discussion, it is recommended to discuss the salaried employee’s individual competence development needs derived from the company’s strategic goals. Competence and skills may be developed through in-house and external training. Competence development needs can be met by means such as work-related learning, participating in projects or working groups or voluntary vocational further education or in-service training or by completing a completely new educational degree. Planning the remaining working years becomes important when the employee approaches the retirement age. Performance appraisals or other contexts should also cover the questions of retirement and when to retire, transferring the competence accumulated to younger employees, and investigate any interest in participating in working after retirement.

The clause also states that the social partners will during the agreement period survey good practices of the development of competence in the workplace, training provided outside the workplace and the experienced effectiveness of training.

Use of measure

The collective agreements cover approximately 1,700 employees.

Contents

• Training and employability

Target groups

Workers	Businesses	Citizens
Particular professions Older people in employment (aged 55+)	Sector specific set of companies	Does not apply to citizens

Actors and funding

Actors	Funding
Social partners jointly	No special funding required

Social partners

Social partners' role in designing the measure and form of involvement:

	Trade unions	Employers' organisations
Role	Agreed (outcome) incl. social partner initiative	Agreed (outcome) incl. social partner initiative
Form	Not applicable	Not applicable

Social partners' role in the implementation, monitoring and assessment phase:

• Social partners jointly
• Main level of involvement: Sectoral or branch level

Involvement

Signatory parties include Trade Union Pro [Ammattiliitto Pro] on the trade union side and the Chemical Industry Federation [Kemianteollisuus], Footwear and leather industries [Kenkä- ja nahkateollisuus], Rubber Manufacturers’ Association of Finland RMAF [Kumiteollisuus] and Ceramic glass industries [Lasikeraaminen teollisuus LT] on the employer’s side.

Views and reactions

The measure is a collective agreement.

Sectors and occupations

This case is not occupation-specific.

Sources

• 18 January 2022: Conclusion reached on the collective agreements between the chemical industry and the Trade Union Confederation of Finnish Industry [Negotiations reached on the collective agreements between the chemical industry and the Trade Union Confederation of Finnish Industry] (www.kemianteollisuus.fi)
• 07 February 2023: Collective agreement for salaried employees in the Finnish chemical industry (proliitto.fi)
• 09 February 2023: the collective bargaining agreement for salaried employees in the ceramic glass industry [Lasikeraamisen teollisuuden toimihenkilösopimus], (proliitto.fi)
• 09 February 2023: collective bargaining agreement for salaried employees rubber manufacturing [Kumiteollisuuden toimihenkilöiden työehtosopimus (www.kemianteollisuus.fi)
• 09 February 2023: collective bargaining agreement for salaried employees in the shoe and leather, goldsmiths’, and brush & paintbrush industries [Kenkä- ja nahkateollisuuden ja kultaseppäteollisuuden sekä harja- ja sivellinalan toimihenkilösopimus] (www.kemianteollisuus.fi)
• 09 February 2023: collective bargaining agreement for the company Fiskars Finland regarding their salaried employees [Fiskars Finland Oy Ab:n Toimihenkilöitä koskeva työehtosopimus (proliitto.fi)
• 24 February 2025: Collective agreement for salaried employees in the Finnish chemical industry 2025-2027 [Kemianalan toimihenkilöiden työehtosopimus] (www.kemianteollisuus.fi)