Pension Reforms
Pension legislation is amended each year. Larger reforms take place more seldom. In Finland, reforms are prepared by the social partners and the State.
Reforms often originate in changes in society. The practical law drafting is initiated by, for example, an agreement between the social partners or an entry in the Government Programme. Smaller amendments may be needed because of changes in legislation that closely relates to pensions.
The most recent extensive pension reform took effect at the beginning of 2017. It continued the path of previous reforms to extend working lives by linking the retirement age to changes in life expectancy.
Government Programme and earnings-related pension reform
We have compiled data on the themes relating to the pension reform.
At its plenary session on 29 May 2026, the Finnish Parliament adopted the legislative proposal to amend legislation governing the earnings-related pension system.
Developing the pension system for the self-employed (YEL)
The independent assessor appointed by the Ministry of Health and Social Affairs has outlined how the pension system for the self-employed needs to be developed and what the problems are relating to the current way of establishing the confirmed incomes of the self-employed. The report includes alternative solutions to this problem. The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health published the report on 5 December 2025.
The view of Prime Minister Petteri Orpo’s Government on the reform of the pension system for the self-employed was confirmed in the government budget session on 22 April 2026. The Finnish Centre for Pensions is supporting the Ministry with impact assessments and calculations.