Govt mulls comprehensive social security reform in spring

The government has taken a move to bring a comprehensive reform in social security in spring, said an official press release.

“The best way to achieve a common understanding of a sustainable model for the future is to increase awareness and knowledge of social security throughout our society. I therefore hope that the reform process will generate a debate, both within and outside a parliamentary social security committee, on the choices and principles of social security”, said Aino-Kaisa Pekonen, Minister of Social Affairs and Health.

”Partial reforms will be carried out in stages during this parliamentary term, but the actual aim and focus will be on social security for Finns in the next decade,” the minister added.

A parliamentary committee will be set up for the preparation of the social security reform. The committee will work for a period of two parliamentary terms. One Member of Parliament from each political party shall be appointed as members of the committee. In addition, a deputy member will be appointed for each member.

The committee will also include experts from third-sector operators, institutions and various ministries. The committee's divisions will support its work. The committee may, for example, commission reports on social security problems from the divisions. The committee will report on its work to a ministerial monitoring group, but does not act under its direction.

“The committee's first task will be to find a sufficient consensus on the current state of social security and on the problems to be solved. We have not yet made such a description in Finland. We can create a common understanding by familiarising ourselves with the facts, highlighting different perspectives and discussing conflicts in a constructive manner. Only when a sufficient consensus has been reached will it be possible to create a long-term roadmap and build social security for the future. There are no shortcuts to the solutions, which is why two parliamentary terms have been reserved for the reform,” said Pasi Moisio, future Chair of the Social Security Committee.