History

The trade union movement has achieved a great deal over the years. It is quite clear that without trade unions we would never have secured many of the employee rights that are taken for granted nowadays, such as the eight-hour working day, summer and winter holidays, sick pay and maternity and parental leave.

Tapio Bergholm: A History of the SAK

2020

  • The activation model for unemployment security was abolished as of 1 January 2020 due to the campaigning against the model

2019

  • Release of SAK proposals for motivating employment security
  • Two-year extension of the employee rights advisory service for immigrants with financing from SAK and affiliated trade unions
  • Easing of benefit conditions governing voluntary student enrolment while unemployed
  • Adjusted unemployment benefit harmonised with the pay period for part-time work, reducing payment delays

2018

  • #Ääni työttömälle demonstration against the jobseeker activation scheme
  • Viimeinen niitti campaign against proposals to worsen job security

2017

  • Pension reform takes effect
  • Workplace equality plans become mandatory
  • Redundant employees secure entitlement to six months of employer-funded retraining and occupational health care
  • Launch of SAK annual Future Today events focusing on changes in the world of work
  • Launch of SAK four-year Time of opportunities project investigating digitisation, globalisation and climate change

2016

  • Competitiveness Pact and withdrawal of austerity measures planned by the Finnish government
  • Employee rights advisory service for immigrants
  • Reform of the Occupational Accidents, Injuries and Diseases Act

2015

  • Accord on pay rises for the third year of the pact for employment and growth
  • Non-Discrimination and Equality Acts reform

2014

  • Act on Financially-Supported Development on Professional Skills
  • Flexible care allowance
  • Reforms in unemployment benefit, e.g. reduction of employment condition from eight months to six months, cut in unemployment benefit waiting period from seven days to five days and EUR 300 protected element in adjusted unemployment benefit

2013

  • Pact for employment and growth

2012

  • Agreement concerning the extension of work careers

2011

  • Framework agreement

2009

  • Expansion of training for unemployed

2006

  • Contractors' Liability Act
  • Leveling the family leave costs

2005

  • Renewed Equality Act
  • Renewed pension system
  • Renewed Annual Leave Act

2004

  • Renewing vocational rehabilitation

2003

  • Improving unemployment security
  • Renewed Safety Act

2002

  • New Occupational Health Care Act

2001

  • Renewed Employment Contracts Act

1999

  • Renewing early retirement

1998

  • Establishing Unemployment Insurance Fund

1996

  • Childcare Act
  • Improving the situation of the atypical employment relationships
  • Conditions of employment for foreign employees
  • Renewed Working Hours Act

1995

  • Job-alteration leave
  • Working Hours Act

1991

  • Vocational education benefit
  • Improving the situation of the atypical employment relationships
  • Educational insurance
  • Annual leave bank

1989

  • Renewing Act on Unemployment Benefits

1988

  • Expansion of Child home care allowance
  • Flexitime

1987

  • Prohibition of discrimination in recruitment
  • Student allowance for adults

1986

  • Equality Act

1985

  • Home Care Allowance Act

1984

  • Unemployment benefit combined to wage

1980

  • Study Leave Act
  • Parental leave and child care leave

1978

  • Act on Codetermination in Companies
  • Occupational Health Care Act

1977

  • Winter holiday

1976

  • Group life insurance

1974

  • 7-months maternity leave

1973

  • Renewing Annual Leave Act

1972

  • Return-from-holiday pay

1971

  • 4-weeks annual leave
  • Minimum wage

1968

  • First collective agreement
  • Sickness Insurance Act

1967

  • Annual leave pay agreement

1966

  • Protection against dismissal

1965

  • 40-hour and 5-days working week

1961

  • Employment pension system

1960

  • 18–24 days annual leave

1959

  • 45-hours working week

1958

  • Occupational Safety and Health Act

1956

  • General strike
  • Pay rise

1948

  • Child benefit
  • Accident Insurance Act

1947

  • Collective bargaining system
  • Shop steward system

1946

  • 12–14 days annual leave
  • Labour Court

1939

  • 5–12 days annual leave

1937

  • National Pension Act

1922

  • Employment Contracts Act
  • 4-7 days annual leave

1917

  • Finland becomes independent
  • 8-hours working day

1907

  • SAK is established