Finland: new law on working time set to come into force

On 5 July, the Finnish president enacted a new law on working time, which had been passed by the country’s parliament in March but was delayed to the change in the majority in the house. The law was put together by a taskforce that was set up in June 2016 by the Finnish economic affairs and employment minister, bringing together the administration, employers and trade unions. It aims to modernise Finnish legislation, by implementing certain elements of European regulation, and to adapt the legal framework to how working methods and arrangements are evolving. The most innovative elements of the law seek in practice to foster working hour flexibility in companies as well as a superior work-life balance for workers.