Negotiations in the private social services sector will continue next week – level of pay increases remains a sticking point
The collective agreement negotiations of the private social services sector will continue next week. The most important source of disagreement between the parties is the level of pay increases. Agreement text changes that would improve the terms and conditions of employment have not progressed in the negotiations, either.
The collective agreement negotiations of the private social services sector remain deadlocked. The employer party insists on the general pay increase level that is based on the pay increases of the export industries, but Trade Union JHL has not bound itself to this export-led model. This week’s several negotiations have not produced a result. The next meeting is already on Monday 26 January 2026. Negotiations have also been scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday.
“Pay development of the female-dominated sectors has been locked into place. The employers’ policies and recent legislation have reinforced the export-led model into such rigid entity that obvious pay gaps cannot be fixed. These decisions have driven the female-dominated sectors into a situation where the chances of making progress are effectively blocked”, emphasises Trade Union JHL’s Chief Executive Officer Mari Keturi.
If the pay increases of the private social services sector are on the general level, the female-dominated sectors cannot catch up on pay levels. If the pay increase percentages are on the same level as in other sectors, the pay differential in euros actually becomes even bigger, and the pay gap of the social welfare and health care sector just expands.
More than 90% of the workforce in the private social services sector are women. Besides the pay issues, they already suffer from negative labour market changes made through legislation. For example, as research shows, making fixed-term employment easier affects mostly women. Building gender equality in the world of work is going backwards.
“JHL cannot accept this kind of dictation policy. We are going to hold on to that level of pay increases that was entered into shared objectives together with the employer party. Furthermore, the general level that has now been offered increases pay differential in euros not only to the export industries but also to the public sector, where the pay for the same work is significantly better”, Keturi states.
The collective agreement of the private social services sector expired at the end of the year 2025, but its terms and conditions continue to apply based on continuing effect. However, during a period without agreement the parties are no longer bound by the obligation to maintain industrial peace. This means that they can take industrial action to speed up the negotiations. The employers are represented in the negotiations by the Finnish Association of Private Care Providers (Hali).
Follow the news on JHL’s website and on our other channels.
More information:
Tanja Tuunainen-Vainio, Bargaining Specialist, 050 463 2243
Siru Heromaa-Karjalainen, Bargaining Specialist, 050 472 4270
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