Finnish labour unions representing around 85 percent of the workforce have accepted the government's bid to increase working hours without a pay rise, officials said Friday. Once one of the top performers in the eurozone, Finland has been struggling for nine years to put its economy back on track. The deal, drafted by Finland's pro-austerity government to cut the cost of labour, means that around 85 percent of Finnish employees will work 24 hours, three additional days, a year without extra compensation.
Employees will also pay a greater portion of social insurance contributions and holiday pay will be reduced in the public sector.