Swedish People's Party proposes restoring unemployment benefit protection part, calling government's 'experiment' a failure

Finland's Swedish People's Party (RKP) is advocating for the reinstatement of the "protection part" of unemployment benefits, a measure they were part of removing. Party leader Anders Adlercreutz announced the proposal at the RKP's summer meeting in Porvoo, stating that recipients should be able to earn up to 300 euros per month without a reduction in their benefits.

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We have made a nationwide experiment. Studies suggest that the experiment has been unsuccessful. It has not led to the desired results. We have strong evidence of this.

Adlercreutz framed the previous removal of this protection as a "nationwide experiment" that has proven unsuccessful. He cited research suggesting the experiment did not lead to the intended outcomes. "We have strong evidence of this," Adlercreutz stated, emphasizing that the RKP believes accepting smaller or part-time jobs should always be financially beneficial when such work is available.

This stance directly challenges the current government's position. Prime Minister Petteri Orpo (National Coalition Party) recently reiterated that the government has no plans to reintroduce the protection part. Social Security Minister Karoliina Partanen (National Coalition Party) justified its removal as a cost-saving measure, claiming it had not significantly hindered part-time employment.

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Actually, you don't have to take on everything, do you?

However, research published in the peer-reviewed Journal of Public Economics, conducted by Labore, the University of Tampere, and VATT, suggests otherwise. The study indicated that the protection parts of unemployment and housing benefits actually increased part-time work during unemployment and did not appear to weaken later full-time employment prospects, potentially showing positive effects.

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We have made a nationwide experiment. Studies suggest that the experiment has been unsuccessful. It has not led to the desired results. We have strong evidence of this.

RKP parliamentary group chair Otto Andersson criticized what he called a tendency in Finnish political culture to cling to decisions for the sake of prestige, even when they prove detrimental. Adlercreutz also highlighted the urgency of employing young people, stating that Finland cannot wait for economic growth to improve youth employment. The RKP's summer meeting also addressed other proposals, including more equitable distribution of parental leave and incentivizing welfare areas for providing services in both national languages.

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It is not a matter of prestige to hold onto decisions that have proven to be bad.