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Thousands of Finnish nurses work in Sweden, Norway and the UK Helsinki (17.06.2002 Juhani Artto) Thousands of Finnish nurses, midwives, physiotherapists and other health care professionals are currently working abroad. The Union of Health and Social Care Professionals - Tehy estimates that there are about 6,000 of these workers, which is a sizeable percentage of the total trained labour pool in the sector. More than a third of these 6,000 work in Norway, slightly fewer in Sweden, and a growing number in the UK. Tehy information officer Katriina Vasama reports that the organisations rank and file are employed in some 140 countries. Nobody knows the exact figures for Finnish health care professionals employed abroad. Even the present trends remain unknown, but Vasama believes that the number exercising this option is hardly decreasing. While there are also nurses of foreign origin in the Finnish labour market, their number does not really balance the outflow of Finnish professionals, as immigrants in the sector are counted only in hundreds. Under the pressure of labour shortage in their health care systems, Norway and Sweden attract Finns with better pay and less stressful working conditions. Net salaries can be 20 to 30 per cent higher than in Finland. Of great importance compared to Finland is also the proper staffing of health care institutions in Norway and Sweden. In Finland the average stress level in health care jobs is higher than in any other work. Vasama has heard Tehy members describe their work periods in Norway in terms of "taking a breather", after the heavy workload that they have experienced in Finland. During the recession of the early 1990s one obvious reason to leave Finland was lack of employment opportunities. Many professionals also found that seeking work abroad was no longer a great leap into the unknown, as nowadays many have undergone mandatory on-the-job training in other countries. Younger professionals in particular appreciate the chance to gain experience from working and living abroad. Norwegian and Swedish employers have been actively recruiting in Finland for several years. The Swedish language educational institutions have been targeted especially strongly, as most of their students are already native speakers of Swedish. This also provides a sound basis for working in Norway, where employers have readily organised and financed any necessary further language training. Besides Tehy, several other unions organise nurses and other health care professionals. Under the SAK umbrella the Municipal Workers Union has thousands of health care workers in its rank and file. These unions agree that the pay level of the entire health care system in Finland must be raised to reinforce the labour market competitiveness of Finnish health care organisations. At the same time the serious overburdening of employees must be discontinued by establishing more jobs in the sector. At the other end of the international rotation of health care professionals, many Estonians are attracted by the opportunities in Finland, as pay and working conditions in the ultra-liberal Estonian system are far worse than in Finland. |
Finnish
wages are lousy, Helsingin Sanomat 04.06.2002 Ten years of working conditions in the European Union, Eurofound's research summary (pdf-file) In terms of real property, one Finland equals two Nokias, Helsingin Sanomat 08.01.2001 The growth of the Finnish economy did not eradicate unemployment, Helsingin Sanomat 03.01.2001 Only one Finn in nine actually retire as late as 65, Helsingin Sanomat 02.01.2001 Incomes policy agreement approved; The incomes policy agreement in a nutshell;The economic backgrounf of the incomes policy agreement SAK 15.12.2000 Collective bargaining in Finland 1999-2000, Pekka Sauramo, Labour Institute for Economic Research, Helsinki (pdf-file) Working environment greater cause of absenteeism than lifestyle Helsingin Sanomat International Edition 05.12.2000 New job creation down 50 % this year Helsingin Sanomat International Edition 01.12.2000 Made in Hong Finland Helsingin Sanomat International Edition 28.11.2000 Bars and restaurants among Finland's most hazardous work places Helsingin Sanomat International Edition 27.11.2000 Finland faces labour shortage in all sectors in 2005 Helsingin Sanomat International Edition 23.11.2000 New two-year incomes agreement announced Helsingin Sanomat International Edition 17.11.2000 Increased disparities in wealth distribution Helsingin Sanomat International Edition 09.11.2000 Floating shopping centers might become a thing of the past Helsingin Sanomat International Edition 24.10.2000 SAK member unions vote to go with two-year wage deal Helsingin Sanomat International Edition 03.10.2000 National Economy and State Finances Ministry of Finance Occupational Safety and Health Ministry of Social Affairs and Health Dispute highlights threats to Finnish seafarers' jobs eironline Strikes break out as bargaining round nears conclusion eironline "Barometer" examines industrial relations in Baltic states eironline Strike levels fall in 1999 eironline Action programme launched to promote "ability to cope" at work eironline SAK computer campaign proves successful eironline European working time conference held in Helsinki eironline
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