Disagreement over raising retirement age threatens to delay Rantala working group

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Representatives of employers and employees on a working group for pension reform continue to disagree on proposals to raise the retirement age.
      The working group headed by Jukka Rantala, Managing Director of the Finnish Centre for Pensions, is trying to iron out a settlement in the matter today, Monday. However, discussions were suspended on Monday morning, it is seen as likely that no settlement will be reached during the day.
      Various groups involved in the issue are holding meetings during the day.
     
The second of the two pension groups, the working group on quality issues of working life, headed by Jukka Ahtela, a director of the Confederation of Finnish Industry (EK), completed its work early in the morning. The results of the discussions were not immediately made public.
      The Rantala group, meanwhile, is still holding discussions. The most recent session of talks concluded at about 7:30 Monday morning.
     
The Rantala group is dealing with certain very difficult issues, the most contentious of which are calls for an increase in the retirement age and the elimination of the so-called “unemployment tube”.
      The EK has called for the abolition of the tube, which allows for a smooth transition to retirement for the older jobless. The labour side wants to keep the existing system.
     
Jukka Ahtela said on Sunday that he is pleased with the result reached by his working group, which has been negotiating on the matter since April last year.
      Ahtela’s group has been able to work largely outside the glare of media attention. The outcome of its negotiations is to be presented to Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen (Centre) in the evening. Ahtela would also like to wait until the Rantala group is ready with its results.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Average retirement age has increased in Finland (28.1.2010)
  Employers seriously trying to get rid of “unemployment tube” (27.1.2010)
  Report calls for nearly 5-year increase in retirement age (23.1.2009)

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