Finland proposes civil service reforms to bolster national security

The Finnish government has proposed reforms to the Civil Service Act aimed at strengthening national total security. Under the new legislation, individuals performing civil service could be assigned to non-military tasks such as civil protection, disaster relief, search operations for missing persons, and logistics during crises.

Minister of Employment Matias Marttinen stated that the changes seek to utilize the potential of civil service personnel to bolster societal preparedness. The proposal includes extending the training period from four weeks to between five and eight weeks. Additionally, those in the civil service reserve could be called for up to 14 days of service during non-military crises, and a new 40-day refresher service would be introduced. The total duration of civil service would remain at 347 days.

The proposal has faced criticism from Left Alliance MP Pia Lohikoski. She argues that the reform moves away from the original purpose of civil service for conscientious objectors by linking it more closely to military-adjacent preparedness. Lohikoski also called for a reduction in the length of civil service, noting that the 347-day term is more than double the 165-day term served by most conscripts, a discrepancy she claims human rights organizations view as punitive.