Commerce’s partner organisations
Commerce in the Confederation of Finnish Industries
The Finnish Commerce Federation is one of the largest of the Confederation of Finnish Industries’ 25 member associations. The Finnish Commerce Federation has the largest collective labour agreement in numbers ofpeople. Of the Finnish service sectors, commerce is the largest by some distance.
Commerce is the leading sector in the revolution of the Finnish economic structure. This is also why the Finnish Commerce Federation’s voice is heard in the Confederation of Finnish Industries. The collective labour agreements’ guidance and influence in the field is significant.
The representative body uses the highest authority in the Confederation of Finnish Industries. It consists of about 125 company directors appointed by the member associations. The Finnish Commerce Federation has two seats on the board of the Confederation of Finnish Industries. The bodies’ term is one calendar year.
The Confederation of Finnish Industries annually points several committees, which handle current lobbying issues and prepare the long-term lobbying strategies. The Finnish Commerce Federation is well-represented in these bodies, since the chairs of the Federation’s own committees work as members in the corresponding committees in the Confederation of Finnish Industries.
The Finnish Commerce Federation’s cooperation with trade unions
The Finnish Commerce Federation cooperates extensively with the sector’s trade unions, for example by negotiating collective labour agreements and developing working life. Finnish Commerce Federation negotiates the collective labour agreements with the Service Union United (PAM), the Transport Workers’ Union (AKT) and the Union of Private Sector Professionals (ERTO).
The Finnish Commerce Federation collaborates with several international commerce sector organisations. Since the decisions affecting the commerce sector are increasingly made in the EU, cooperation with international sister organisations is important. Cooperation strengthens the commerce sector’s opportunities for influence and ensures that the sector is taken into account in decision-making.
FIBS
The Finnish Commerce Federation is a member of FIBS’ network of sustainable business. Through its operations, FIBS aims to improve companies’ understanding of the possibilities of sustainable and responsible business. More information about FIBS.
Cooperation in higher education and research
The Finnish Commerce Federation is the founding member of the Vähittäiskaupan tutkimussäätiö ( Retail Trade Research Foundation). Founded in 1964, the Retail Trade Research Foundation strives to support the commercial research conducted in Finland and also to promote cooperation between researchers and commerce sector companies. The Finnish Commerce Federation and the Retail Trade Research Foundation hold an annual Commerce Research Day.
Additionally, the Finnish Commerce Federation has carried out research with, among others, Aalto University’s School of Business and the University of Tampere’s School of Management.
Commerce’s international partner organisations
EuroCommerce
EuroCommerce is an European commerce sector lobbying organisation, whose mission is to ensure that the commerce sector is taken into account in the EU legislation. Its members include national commerce federations from 31 European countries and 27 leading retail and wholesale trade companies.
Within EuroCommerce, the Finnish Commerce Federation is represented by the Federation’s Managing Director, Kari Luoto . Additionally, experts of the Finnish Commerce Federation are members of EuroCommerce committees.
Ecommerce Europe
Ecommerce Europe is an European electronic commerce lobbying organisation, which represents 25,000 European online stores. The organisation was founded by national electronic commerce organisations. The organisation’s mission is to promote cross-border electronic trade, produce research information about Europe’s online market and offer a forum for the European electronic commerce sector.
FIRAE
FIRAE, the Forum for International Retail Association Executives, is an international network of retail trade organisations. Its members are commerce sector organisations from 25 different countries. FIRAE acts as a forum and cooperation organisation which seeks solutions for the global questions of retail trade.
The Finnish Commerce Federation Managing Director, Kari Luoto, and Director, Simo Hiilamo, serve as points of contact within the FIRAE cooperation.
