Finland's entrepreneur pension reform draws mixed reactions

The Finnish government has drafted a reform of the entrepreneur pension law (YEL) that would let self‑employed workers choose between a work‑income based model and a model based on declared earned income. The proposal also calls for the use of real‑time income data where possible and removes dividend income from the YEL contribution base.

Varsinais‑Suomen Yrittäjät, the regional entrepreneurs' association, welcomed the draft, noting that it could improve choice and support small‑business owners. However, its CEO Jutta Wirén warned that the current model still relies on tax data that can be up to two years old and urged the inclusion of up‑to‑date register information.

Trade unions, including the SAK and the association of micro‑ and solo entrepreneurs (MYRY), criticised the draft as rushed and insufficiently detailed. They argued it does not adequately address the needs of the lowest‑earning entrepreneurs and called for a more thorough, tripartite preparation process. Tela’s Saara‑Sofia Sirén highlighted the need for current tax‑register data to make the work‑income calculation realistic.