Work builds wellbeing and sustainable economy
Working life is changing. During the pandemic, a large number of workers took a digital leap that changed the ways of working permanently. On the other hand, the pandemic made differences and inequalities in working life visible and increased them in many ways. For others, remote work was easy and safe, for others it was not possible or allowed. However, the pandemic did not start the change in working life – it just accelerated the already ongoing process.
Work is the foundation of our society. It is the basis of our personal livelihood and inclusion but also the foundation of the success, competitiveness and wealth of the society. SDP’s idea has long been that attending to employment and the generation of good jobs is the most sustainable economic policy there is in a Nordic welfare state.
All work is valuable, yet working life is not always fair or does not function correctly. We must secure everyone’s right to work and a earn a decent living and also to fair working conditions. Labour market problems must be intervened in swiftly and firmly. A strong trade union movement is needed to secure workers’ rights and improve working life together with employers’ organisations. SDP believes in negotiating and building things together, not dictating or unilateral conditions.
Also, all work is not traditional paid employment. People can participate in society in many ways. Studying, unpaid care work and the many forms of voluntary work, as well as the different ways in which people of different ages contribute to the development of common good, they all build our society. Everyone’s right and opportunity to participate in society according to their own abilities and wishes must be safeguarded.
Work is generated by securing a functioning society and favourable conditions. That is why land use planning, functioning transport, and housing policy alike are so central in securing Finnish labour.
A better working life
- The right to work and inclusion for everyone. The target employment rate will be set at 80% and the opportunities to work of those with partial work ability will be improved
- Fair play in the labour market, strengthening consensus building and labour market regulations
- A comprehensive response to the labour shortage by improving working conditions and wages and increasing labour immigration
- Working life equality and parity by preventing discrimination, increasing flexibility and generating a more family-friendly working life. We will prepare an equality programme, increase wage transparency and continue to develop the family leave system
- Tackling labour market crime by criminalisation of underpayment, strengthening the status of shop stewards, and increasing the resources of occupational safety and health
Competitiveness and growth through a functioning society
- Functioning transport connections, functioning infrastructure, and reducing repair debt in the entire country so that investments or the performance of companies are not hindered by the lack of accessibility or functioning infrastructure
- Strengthening the status and funding of the National 12-year transport system plan
- Smoothness and swiftness of official processes in land use and traffic planning
- Lowering the price of housing by increasing affordable housing production. The aim is to start the construction of around 35,000 dwellings annually