A selection of articles from the SASK magazine "Työmaana maailma" ("The world is our working place") has been translated into English. The magazine in Finnish can be subscribed for free. (In Finland only.)
During the last decade China has been hit by a wave of wildcat workers strikes, the fundamental cause of which, according to Han Dongfang, is the lack of Chinese workers to engage in collective bargaining with their employers.
"Whilst in Finland workers rights can be seen as well respected, there is besides unemployment also in Finland the need to address the issue of precarious workers and the situation of guest workers", said Jarno Kaukola, chair of the student union of the Finnish Confederation of Professionals STTK.
The Finnish government has decided to shrink its development cooperation budget for 2010 with EUR 60 million. The saved funds in the budget compromise reached by the cabinet on 27 August are to provide for more then one fourth of a new employment package. The government furthermore decided that funds for the assistance of refugees coming to Finland are to be counted as ODA funds, even though the money will be used in Finland.
Indian foundry workers earn in a seven-day working week the equivalent of what their Finnish counterparts earn in an hour, says recent FinnWatch report.
- Trade unionists can no longer negotiate realistic wages as the economy continues on its free fall, says Last Tarabuku, coordinator for the ZCTU Emergency Support project.
