Finnish Safety and Chemicals Agency (Tukes) initiates cooperation negotiations
Tukes is initiating cooperation negotiations for all its staff. The reason for the negotiations is the reduced funding for the agency in the state budget. The aim of the negotiations is to bring the agency’s finances into line with the framework for the coming years.
The reason for the negotiations is the cut in Tukes' operating budget in the state budget proposal as part of the savings on administrative operating expenditure in the government's productivity programme. The savings target for 2027 is about 22% of Tukes’ available funding. This year, Tukes will spend about EUR 34.7 million.
As a result of the economic adjustment, the number of Tukes staff is expected to decrease by a maximum of 45 persons. The measures now being planned are designed to cover the known reduction needs until the beginning of 2027. All staff will come within the remit of the cooperation negotiations. The measures will be specified in the negotiations starting on 3 October 2024. They will last at least six weeks.
“This is a serious situation for Tukes. Tukes’ tasks have continued to expand, but budget funding has not kept pace with their development. Tukes is a specialist agency, and the rapid and large cuts in our funding under the productivity programme will primarily affect our staff. The cuts will particularly affect the ability of our staff to cope at work,” says Director General Kimmo Peltonen.
“The need for savings is forcing us to evaluate our statutory tasks, and we are concerned about the impact of the cuts on the overall security of society. Tukes does a lot of preparatory supervision where we advise and help companies to comply with the requirements of legislation. In the future, it will be impossible for Tukes to provide the level of advice that companies want,” Peltonen stresses.
Tukes is a licensing and supervisory authority that promotes the safety and reliability of products, services and industrial activities. Tukes employs around 300 experts in different fields. The staff work in Helsinki, Tampere and Rovaniemi.
Organisation | Finnish Safety and Chemicals Agency (Tukes)
Further information for the media:
Director General Kimmo Peltonen
[email protected] tel. +358 295 052 157
Director Annika Kutilainen
[email protected], tel +358 295 052 042
