SuPer approves negotiation result of private early childhood education collective agreement negotiations
On 30 December, SuPer’s Executive Committee approved the outcome of negotiations for a completely new collective agreement for the private early childhood education sector. Under the new collective agreement, pay rises will follow the general pay policy.
Until now, the sector has not had its own collective agreement. Instead, operations have been covered by other agreements such as the collective agreement for the private social services sector (SOSTES). The new agreement is similar to the SOSTES agreement previously applied in the sector, but it is better tailored to the needs of the early childhood education sector.
“It is important for our members that we now have our own agreement that takes into account the special characteristics of childcare work,” says SuPer’s President Päivi Inberg. “It was not a given that we would be able to reject the employer’s proposed cuts and improve terms and conditions of employment. It is important that the collective agreement solution for early childhood education is reached on the sector’s own terms.”
“Drafting a completely new collective agreement is a rare and inspiring opportunity. The working group will continue to work for our members and develop a suitable pay system for the sector,” says SuPer’s Contract Negotiator Jukka Parkkola.
Pay rises in line with the general pay policy
The collective agreement for the private early childhood education sector (VAKATES) covers the period 1 January 2026–30 April 2027. Pay rises will be implemented as follows: on 1 August 2026, a general increase of 2.5%, applied to both individual and graded salaries, and on 1 February 2027 a 0.4% adjustment allowance to be used to reform the pay system.
The remuneration of shop stewards and occupational safety and health representatives will increase by 2.9% as of 1 August 2026, rounded up to the nearest euro. In addition, the payment date for holiday pay was brought forward, and the working time provisions were tightened, for example in relation to overtime. Another important improvement for SuPer members is the inclusion of a provision recognising planning time for so-called unqualified teachers, as the role is often carried out by a childcare worker.
During the agreement period, the working group will continue to develop the pay system and possible incentive pay elements, as well as an on-call compensation model suitable for the sector.
In addition to SuPer, the negotiating parties include JHL, OAJ and Talentia, as well as the Finnish Education Employers (FEE, in Finnish Sivista) representing the employers. Private early childhood education in Finland covers around 40,000 children and employs approximately 10,000 people.
Publiced in English 5.1.2026.