Enterprise Society programme teaches children about work

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By Riku Jokinen
     
      So this is where things stand.
      Finland in 2001 is a cradle of democracy and human rights, still proudly in fifth place on the corruption index of Transparency International. It is a model country of PISA studies, where even the strongest of emotions are articulated in the voting booth – not by throwing bombs.
      And the business elite puts young children to work.
     
Is it right for a CEO to get more pay than an ordinary worker?
      “Yes, we work more”, says Jesse Niinisaari, director of the postal service.
      “Right, more work. I think we do the same jobs”, says letter carrier Emre Albeni with a laugh.
     
Jesse and Emre are not real postmen. They are sixth graders at the Vehkalahti School in Hamina, and are on a field trip at the Enterprise Society exhibit at the Museum of Technology in Helsinki.
      The exhibit is a miniature city with forest industry facilities, an electric utility, a media building, maintenance, a bank, a restaurant, a city hall and a fashion boutique.
      The Enterprise Society exhibit is a model city covering 400 square metres with 14 companies and public services. It is built out of portable prefabricated elements, and this spring it operates at the Helsinki Museum of Technology.
     
Groups of about 60 schoolchildren at a time work in the model city for a full school day. They are paid salaries, and can use their earnings to buy real goods and services from the other enterprises.
      At the UPM paper mill there is a sales manager and a process manager. The innovation centre works on a business to business principle, selling planning services to other enterprises. Restaurants are there basically to sell food.
     
There is a bit of a problem at the till of the S-market.
      The finance and personnel manager shrugs as the managing director adds up numbers on a computer screen. A few cashiers are also milling around.
      “Account has insufficient funds”, the screen announces.
      The Mayor has left the store without paying. Or if he has paid, his debit card account did not have enough money on it.
     
The idea for the Enterprise Society came from the Economic Information Office (TAT), which is affiliated with the Confederation of Finnish Industry (EK), and promotes the interests of Finnish business. Perhaps this is one reason why all wages and salaries paid in the model city are subject to 20 per cent tax.
      “Not very much”, Jesse Niinisaari comments.
      It might seem that the propaganda machine of the business interests has taken on the task of persuading school children aged 11 and 12 to support a flat tax.
      “The reason for this is the system of the Enterprise Society. The system would become too complicated otherwise”, says TAT expert Tom Alakoski.
     
The pay received by the CEO is EUR 28, and that of an ordinary worker is EUR 22 a day. The CEOs are not even paid any bonuses. Is TAT suddenly worried about growing income differences?
      “Certainly not, and with that pay level you can’t buy many products anyway – juice and ice cream mainly”, Alakoski says.
     
The hands-on exhibit was set up because the Finnish business community is concerned about the upcoming retirement wave and a labour shortage.
      The children can see what life at work can be like. Real job interviews are held in advance at the schools before a visit takes place.
      “We have been very busy here. Perhaps I’ll go to work at a store when I grow up, because I like to arrange things”, says Roosa Kuitunen, a fifth grader of the Huutjärvi school in Pyhtää, who is working at the Enterprise Society’s wholesale business.
     
Absorbing the adult roles comes fast.
      “Hey, are you on a shift? Hello!” asks one customer in the fashion boutique when she does not get service immediately.
      “Let’s vote”, says another at the city hall.
      The problem at the S-market is quickly resolved when the Mayor goes back to the store and returns two granola bars to the shelf.
     
Helsingin Sanomat / First published in print 3.5.2011


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RIKU JOKINEN / Helsingin Sanomat
riku.jokinen@hs.fi