How the situation in the private social services sector looks seen through the eyes of collective agreement negotiators
Trade Union JHL has listened carefully to its members who work in the private social services sector. JHL’s negotiators have a clear understanding of the members’ needs when the collective agreement negotiations of this sector start in November. The negotiation goals concern for example better pay, working times, work equipment and training.
The collective agreement negotiations of the private social services sector start officially on 3 November 2025. The agreement parties have already had preliminary discussions with each other during the autumn and formed a picture of the present state of affairs in the sector. The current agreement is effective until 31 December 2025, and both the employee and the employer party want to reach an agreement on the new terms and conditions of employment before that.
Negotiation goals have been prepared since last autumn, when Trade Union JHL conducted an extensive survey to chart its members’ thoughts on collective agreement negotiation goals. The results of the survey became available last spring when majority of collective agreements that JHL negotiates were expiring. Views of members working in the private social services sector were charted in that same survey.
We have also organised member events and workplace visits this autumn to hear what our members in the field want. The biggest and most important wish is almost always better pay in order to attract and retain employees in the sector.
In workplace visits we negotiators have learned about the current situation of the social welfare and health care sector first hand. The members were very happy to welcome is at their workplaces. They told about the challenges in their everyday work, as well as about what is wonderful and good in their work. We could see our members in their work and witness the joy that characterised the atmosphere of many workplaces.
We could see our members in their work and witness the joy that characterised the atmosphere of many workplaces.
We had discussions with trade union members at their work as well as with the managers of the institutions. There is much good in this sector. People at the workplaces value good leadership and being able to influence their own work.
How will this sector get employees in the future?
The state of the economy is going to cause challenges also for the upcoming collective agreement negotiations. The atmosphere in the field regarding the collective agreement negotiations is expectant, but everyone shares the concern about the current economic situation and how it will affect the private sector. In our workplace visits we saw with our own eyes the vacant places for residents. There are plenty of people who wait for a place, but the wellbeing services counties do not have enough money to place them in the care that meets their needs.
Availability of workforce has changed drastically. In a matter of months, the sector has moved from a massive workforce shortage to change negotiations and terminations of employment because the flow of clients has suddenly stopped.
However, everyone believes that this is only temporary. We are worried about how the sector will get new employees when things get back to normal and clients start coming in like before. There is a risk that in the meantime part of the workforce may have moved to other sectors. Uncertainty and unpredictability do not attract new student to this occupational sector.
Pay, coping with work and working conditions are the pain points of this sector
The pays in the private social services sector lag behind the public sector, and this is noted in JHL’s negotiation goals. The rising cost of living and removing the protected amount of part-time employees’ earnings from unemployment security cause real challenges for the lowest-paid members and for those who work part-time.
Other pain points at the workplaces concern the day-to-day work. Almost always the employees brought up how stress in their work has increased after the minimum staffing level laid down in the law was reduced. Change negotiations have resulted into cutting people in support services, and as a result, part of the indirect work has moved to those employees who do care work. The employees are concerned about their own and their colleagues’ coping and about the quality of care and services that the clients get.
People also had a lot to say about the working conditions in the sector. We have discussed adequate work clothing and protective clothing. Employees listed with us the criteria of footwear that is suitable for their work: it has to be lightweight enough, protect the foot, not cost too much, stay well on feet and not present a slipping hazard. It is peculiar that employees working in social welfare and health care still have to think about things that should clearly be the responsibility of the employer, such as the criteria for necessary work equipment, and acquire the equipment at their own cost. We can compare this to many male-dominated industrial sectors, where the situation is very different.
It is peculiar that employees working in social welfare and health care still have to think about things that should clearly be the responsibility of the employer.
In addition to pay increases, we have also other goals that we pursue in the upcoming negotiations. These goals come from the needs in the field and concern for example working hours, holidays and time off, work equipment, and training. Besides all that, changes in the agreement text are also needed in order to mitigate the negative changes in the employment law.
Towards better working life
JHL has members working in all pay groups of the collective agreement for the private social services sector, and in all duties of the extensive service chain. We will pursue improvements with a broad approach for all our members in the social welfare and healthcare service chain and pay attention to equality and fairness.
There is still much work to do before the working life is, if not perfect, at least closer to it. Everything cannot be changed just through collective agreement negotiations. We have to push hard to achieve the goals, and each goal that we achieve takes us closer to better working life. All our members in the private social services sector do work that is necessary for our society to function, and they deserve every improvement.
Although the situation is challenging in some respects, we negotiators refuse to be discouraged. We promise to make our members heard at the negotiation table, knowing that if things get tough, we have our members’ support in the negotiations.
Wishing you all the best in your work
Siru & Tanja
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