Work

Power Relations in the Preparation of the Nondiscrimination Act: The Controversial Issue of Supervising Discrimination in Working Life

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: ABSTRACT In the context of Europeanisation and neo‐corporatism, we examine the lengthy process of revising the Nondiscrimination Act in Finland, spanning from 2007 to 2023. The focus is on the mandate of the Nondiscrimination Ombudsman in the workplace and on explaining the sudden policy change of strengthening it after a prolonged standstill. The study employs the Advocacy Coalition Framework, especially the approach of Coalition Opportunity Structures, combined with path dependency in relation to legal frames, in examining the struggle between the labour policy coalition and the coalition of human rights advocates. The case exemplifies the intertwining of legal, institutional, and political structures as strategic means and necessary precursors to policy change, which was a breakthrough for the human rights advocates. Yet the ultimate decisive factor was the political landscape, which reminds us of the inherently political nature of national‐level lawmaking, further supported by the erosion of tripartite lawmaking.

Source: European Policy Analysis

DOI: 10.1002/epa2.70007

Authors: Laura Jauhola, Kati Rantala

Institution: University of Helsinki

Language: English

Topic: Discrimination and Equality Law

Subfield: Law

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

SDGs: Peace, justice, and strong institutions, Reduced inequalities, Decent work and economic growth

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $3,470