30,000 people protest against austerity cuts in Finland
Some 30,000 people have taken to the streets of the Finnish capital Helsinki to voice their anger at the harsh austerity measures planned by the government.
Large crowds of people, including government personnel, industrial and transport workers, and a number of police officers, walked out of their jobs on Friday and attended the protest in a central square of the capital.
The demonstrators are opposed to the government’s plans to enhance the competitive advantage of the Finnish economy by five percent in three years by slashing workers’ payments and benefits.
"We all know Finland’s economy is doing poorly," Antti Rinne, the head of the opposition Social Democrats party, said at the rally, adding, "But it is not improved by forced measures, but through cooperation and agreements."
Last week, Finnish Prime Minister Juha Sipila announced a set of austerity measures, including cutting annual holidays from 38 to 30 days, slashing sick leave pay, and reducing overtime pay, calling them “indispensable” to revive the economy.
"The Finnish state has contracted debt at a rate of almost a million euros (1.13 million dollars) per hour for seven years, day and night, every day of the week. We cannot continue like this," Sipila said in a Wednesday televised address, calling on the Finns to accept the measures.
The government declared its plan after the country's labor unions refused its offer for a deal on taxes, wages, and working hours.
Sipila has given the unions until the end of September to present their own proposal.
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