Year: 2025

The over-the-counter medicine reform must strengthen the consumer’s position and correct the distortion of competition

The government is currently preparing the liberalisation of the sale of over-the-counter medicines to improve the accessibility and affordability of medicines. The discussion on the reform has focused on securing the position of pharmacists. The Finnish Commerce Federation would like to highlight both the consumer’s perspective and the importance of competition neutrality.

After two years, online purchases made by Finns started to increase – Driven by foreign online sales 

Last year, online purchases made by Finns from domestic sources increased by two per cent and online purchases made by Finns from abroad grew by nine per cent. Health and cosmetics purchases increased particularly strongly, driven by various global trends and low-price foreign commerce. The share of foreign e-commerce of digital purchases made by Finns is over 37 per cent, while the volume of the domestic online store exports is seven per cent of their turnover. The development of consumer services has been forgotten in the government’s industrial policy.

Agreement reached on labour dispute in commerce sector - Negotiation result approved by the Finnish Commerce Federation and PAM 

Terms of employment and salaries of employees and supervisors in the commerce sector have now been agreed for a three-year period. The agreement period and pay agreement are in accordance with the so-called general policy. The salary increases will be 7.8 per cent over three years. The new collective agreements are valid until 31 January 2028.

Negotiation result for the commerce sector  

Today, on Tuesday, the Finnish Commerce Federation and the Service Union United PAM have reached agreement in the collective agreement and wage negotiations concerning the commerce sector. The solution will be discussed next in the administrations of both unions.