Press releases

Emergency provisions added to the collective agreement – commercial sector taking wide-ranging action to save businesses and jobs

The Finnish Commerce Federation has reached an agreement with Service Union United PAM on emergency provisions for the collective agreement in order to safeguard the future of businesses in the sector and save jobs. The new provisions take effect on 19 March, and they will remain in force throughout the coronavirus pandemic.

Tax exemption for donations of clothes and shoes would boost circular economy in the commerce sector

Commerce sector companies have to pay value added tax when donating clothes and shoes which makes donating difficult and expensive. For businesses donating unusable stock to those in need is the best solution both from the environmental and social responsibility perspective when a company wants to give away products in good condition. Donating should be as easy and simple as possible and it should not be further complicated with legislation.

Recruitment difficulties pose challenges also for commerce – the largest employer in the economy could employ even more

Companies in the commerce sector are facing challenges with the availability of labour. The phenomenon is becoming evident in the service sector in general. Commerce could be enabled to employ even more, for example, by improving the language skills of foreign born labour as well as by targeting training compensation and salary subsidies better.

FIBS and the Finnish Commerce Federation accelerate corporate responsibility with a new type of industry cooperation

Corporate Responsibility Network FIBS and the Finnish Commerce Federation will start a new type of industry cooperation. The goal is to accelerate corporate responsibility and sustainable business practices in the commerce sector. The industry cooperation model is a first for FIBS and is a part of the networks’ 20-year jubilee. For the member companies of the Finnish Commerce Federation the partnership opens new channels to information regarding corporate responsibility and learning together.

Finnish Commerce Federation and Service Union United PAM: The situation of the specialty goods trade has rapidly collapsed to an alarming level – decisions on direct support for businesses are required quickly

The Finnish Commerce Federation and Service Union United PAM demand that the Government quickly provides information about the direct support measures which the State is prepared to take to avoid a wave of bankruptcies in the specialty goods trade. More extensive social responsibility and clear support measures are also expected of lessors. The situation is alarming in many specialty goods trade businesses: sales have plummeted by 80–90 per cent within only a few weeks.

Specialty goods got retail trade growing – international competition intensifies

Retail business turnover developed well in 2019. A spike in specialty and department store trade during late summer and autumn sped up the growth. However, the employment rate of the retail sector dropped from last year due to increased efficiency of supply chains and operations as well as automation and international competition, among other things.

The Finnish Commerce Federation laments the break in negotiations – collective agreement must answer to challenges posed by the transformation of commerce

The Finnish Commerce Federation finds it very lamentable that the Service Union United PAM has broken off the negotiations over the Collective Agreement for the Commercial Sector, and announced an overtime prohibition and work stoppage. Commerce is tied with the export-focused labour market model that is important for Finland and for the sector’s capability to employ.