Month: February 2023

Commerce sector sales are decreasing – incentive traps are also causing headaches

According to a recent forecast by the Finnish Commerce Federation, the volume of retail trade sales* will shrink by roughly two per cent this year, and the increase in turnover in euros will be driven solely by rising costs and prices. Cost competition in the sector is accelerating, and the number of employed people is decreasing. However, when there is also a shortage of skilled labour, fierce cost competition does not promote the development of the sector in the international competitive environment. From the point of view of the growth of the entire national economy, including commerce, it is important for the future government to secure the availability of skilled labour.

The National Conciliator did not see the prerequisites for issuing a settlement proposal in the commerce sector labour dispute – The Finnish Commerce Federation is disappointed in PAM's unwillingness to negotiate

The National Conciliator did not see the prerequisites for presenting a proposal for reconciliation in the labour dispute in the commerce sector today, as the views of the parties were still far removed from one another. The Finnish Commerce Federation is very disappointed that, despite all the proposals from the Finnish Commerce Federation, PAM is not ready to negotiate an amicable solution to avoid strikes, but decided through its own actions to further postpone the pay increases of employees and the development measures of the pay system. The strikes at the largest grocery stores and Kesko's regional terminals will commence on Thursday.