SAK resists use of foreign labour on ferries

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In September 2002, the Central Organisation of Finnish Trade Unions (SAK) announced that it will resist government plans to amend legislation, so as to allow the use of cheap non-EEA foreign labour on Finnish ferries.

In September 2002, the Central Organisation of Finnish Trade Unions (Suomen Ammattiliittojen Keskusjärjestö, SAK) announced that it will resist government plans to amend legislation, thus allowing the use of cheap foreign labour on ferries. According to SAK, the amendments would make it possible immediately to replace half of the seafarers on Finnish ferries by cheap labour brought from outside the current European Economic Area (EEA). After the enlargement of the EU, it could even be possible to replace the whole crew with lower paid seafarers, it claims. In SAK’s view, the amendments proposed by the Ministry of Transport and Communications would be a major blow to the employment and future of Finnish seafarers. It rejects the Ministry's plans and calls for government measures to save the jobs of Finnish seafarers. At the same time, SAK urges the Ministry of Labour to set up a tripartite initiative to secure minimum working conditions by making control by the labour authorities more effective, and to increase the security of the employees.

The dispute over the use of foreign labour on Finnish ferries have been going on for several years (FI0005149F, FI0008156F and FI0009159N). Both the employers and employees demanded subsidies from the government, believing that these would save the jobs of Finnish seafarers (FI0106188N). After the subsidy package was granted in spring 2002, the trade unions expected the situation to calm down. However, the situation is now again becoming strained because of the legislative amendments being planned.

Finnish ferries operate in the Baltic Sea, where the majority of ferries already sail under foreign flags.