Helsinki, (UNI) About 13,000 protesters rallied in downtown Helsinki on Thursday against labor market reforms proposed by the Finnish government, police said.
The two-hour demonstration was orderly and took place on Senate Square.
The protest was called by two major trade unions on the day of a nationwide strike. The unions oppose the government’s labor market reforms concerning pensions, sick leave payments, unemployment, insurance premiums, simplification of dismissals, ban on strikes and others.
Around 300,000 workers are taking part in the strike that is taking place across the country from Thursday to Friday. The industrial action brought to a standstill Finland’s largest universal port of Hamina-Kotka, while factories and construction sites partially stopped working. Passenger and cargo air transportation was suspended at almost all airports in the country. The strike has also affected public transport, hotels and restaurants. Kindergartens have been closed since Wednesday.
Trade unions of industrialists, construction workers, automotive and transport workers, electricians, service workers, social security workers and others joined the strike.
