The new HYVTES collective agreement: general-level pay increases plus continuation of the pay programme
The new general collective agreement for the welfare sector (HYVTES) covers a period until the end of February 2028, and its pay increases amount to 7.37%. Most of the pay increases are across-the-board increases (also known as general raises) that are paid for all employees who are covered by the agreement. The pay programme of the municipal and welfare sector continues and brings additional 1.8% pay increases.
The new general collective agreement for the welfare sector (HYVTES) is ready. The Union Council of Trade Union JHL approved the collective agreement negotiation result in a meeting on 5 May.
– We have reason to be especially satisfied with the money decisions. They include pay increases that follow the general level and continuation of the pay programme. Also this time bargaining focused on money, describes JHL’s Bargaining Director Kristian Karrasch.
The pay increases in the HYVTES agreement are on the general level
The new agreement period is a little less than three years and ends at the end of February 2028.
Pay increases in HYVTES in 2025–2028
- 1 October 2025: a €53 across-the-board increase, at least 2.50%
- 1 August 2026: a 2.27% across-the-board increase
- 1 October 2026: two increases: a 0.2% allowance for locally negotiated increases (“paikallinen järjestelyerä” in Finnish), and a 0.4% development allowance for locally negotiated pay programme pay increases (“paikallinen kehittämiserä”)
- 1 April 2027: three increases: a 2.0% across-the-board increase, a 0.4% allowance for locally negotiated pay increases, and a 0.4% development allowance for locally negotiated pay programme pay increases
- 1 February 2028: a 1.0% development allowance for pay programme pay increases
The agreement period is two months shorter than for example that of the technology industry, and therefore the total sum of pay increases looks slightly smaller. However, when the duration of the agreement period is considered in the calculation, the pay increase per month is at the same level as in the industrial sectors. In other words, the pay increases follow the general level.
The collective agreement pay increases of the year 2027 are tied to the agreements of the technology industry. If the collective agreement of the technology industry employees is terminated before the third year and the collective agreement pay increases of these employees change, the pay increases of the HYVTES agreement will change as well. This would not affect those pay increases that are part of the pay programme.
Four working groups operate during the agreement period
The negotiators agreed on establishing four working groups for the agreement period. The working groups are tasked to discuss the pay system, working times and the position of personnel representatives (shop stewards and occupational safety and health representatives). The fourth working group will be tasked to find ways to help employees to stay in working life.
Shop stewards get a new gender-neutral term in Finnish, part of annual holidays can be exchanged for money
A number of changes to the details of the collective agreement were also agreed in the negotiations.
These so-called textual changes concern for example holidays and absences due to illness.
In future, both employees in a contractual employment relationship and public servants can exchange part of their annual holidays for money. This change concerns that part of annual holidays that exceeds 30 days. The exchange needs to be agreed locally with the employer.
Inability to work due to fertility treatment will be grounds for paid sick leave.
Furthermore, the new collective agreement enables employees to take paid nursing breaks. The right to take these breaks concerns employees who breastfeed a child under the age of one year. The maximum duration of the break is 15 minutes, and organising the breaks has to be agreed separately.
One more change in the new agreement is a terminology update concerning personnel representatives. The former Finnish term for shop steward, “luottamusmies”, is going to be replaced with a new gender-neutral term “luottamusedustaja”. This change concerns the entire municipal and welfare sector. The term for occupational safety and health representative (“työsuojeluvaltuutettu”) stays as is.
Your trade union JHL negotiates on a number of collective agreements in 2025. Follow the negotiations on our website.
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