Finnish Safety and Chemicals Agency (Tukes) finalises cooperation negotiations

The Finnish Safety and Chemicals Agency (Tukes) is reducing the number of its personnel by approximately 30 after cooperation negotiations. Eight people are being made redundant. At the beginning of the negotiations, it was estimated that the number of personnel would be reduced by 45 at most. The negotiations were initiated due to a cut to Tukes’ operating budget.

The cooperation negotiations began on 3 October 2024 and ended on 15 November 2024. During the negotiations, it was stated the number of redundancies would be reduced by fixed-term contracts ending this year and by the decision to not fill vacancies resulting from the negotiations. Tukes is having to dismiss eight people. 

During the negotiations, it was agreed that personnel reduction measures would only apply to 2025. However, Tukes must continue to adapt its finances during 2026–2027.

Due to the budget cuts, Tukes has to reduce its operating expenses by EUR 1.5 million, its personnel costs by EUR 1.5 million and its information system investments by EUR 2.2 million.

“Tukes will remain in a difficult financial situation in the coming years, despite the efforts to find long-term savings in other operational expenditure. At the same time, Tukes will be receiving a significant number of new tasks that require new competence, without any additional appropriations. Tukes will continue to need competent and skilled personnel,” says Director General Kimmo Peltonen.

Due to the significant reductions in personnel, Tukes will have to examine the way it allocates resources in the future. This may mean reducing or reorganising its functions. The alternatives include postponing supervisory projects, reducing the number of inspections, reducing the amount of customer advice, and longer processing times for applications and permits. These carry the risk that more significant risks to health, property and the environment are left in the operating environment and that the conditions for fair competition deteriorate for businesses.

Tukes plays a key role in creating and promoting comprehensive national security and the security of supply. The agency's tasks will also expand to include supervisory tasks in securing cyber security and the society’s critical infrastructure. A significant number of the agency's statutory tasks is based on EU regulations outside of the purview of national politics.

The Finnish Safety and Chemicals Agency (Tukes) is a security authority that promotes the safety and reliability of products, services and industrial activities. Tukes also operates the national accreditation body FINAS and the national contact point for market surveillance, Fipoint. Tukes currently employs 290 experts in different fields.

Further information for the media:

Director General Kimmo Peltonen
tel. +358 295 052 157
[email protected]

Director Annika Kutilainen
tel. +358 295 052 042
[email protected]