JANUARY 1 – DECEMBER 31, 2017 (compared with the year-earlier period, continuing operations) •Net sales increased 8% to SEK 16,664m (15,373) •Adjusted EBITDA improved 15% to SEK 3,761m (3,269) •The…

The Boards of the Finnish Industrial Union and Technology Industry Employers of Finland on Saturday showed a green light to the pay agreement their negotiators had accepted on Thursday. The agreement guarantees employees a pay rise of 2.5 per cent in 2025, 2.9 per cent in 2026 and 2.4 per cent in 2027, equivalent to a pay rise of eight per cent over the three-year agreement term due to the compound interest effect. The third year, though, can be terminated by the contract parties. An employee currently earning 3,300 euros a month will thus see their earnings rise to 3,383 euros in 2025, to 3,481 euros in 2026 and to 3,564 euros in 2027. The agreement signals an important breakthrough in what had been a deadlocked labour market situation not only because if directly applies to roughly 90,000 employees in a key export industry, but also because it has an indirect impact on most wage earners in the country. The tradition has been that other industries take their cues from the agreement thrashed out in the technology industry.

The Nova Scotia Innovation Hub (NSIH) is announcing the launch of a new initiative aimed at promoting Nova Scotia’s extensive bioeconomy infrastructure to audiences around the world. The Bioeconomy Sites Project showcases industrial sites across the province to national and international firms in the low-carbon renewable resource sector. “Nova Scotia’s vibrant renewable resource sectors make it an excellent location for biotechnology and bioresource firms,” says Geoffrey Clarke, Director of Business Development for Port Hawkesbury Paper, one of the locations profiled on the site. “This exciting new medium will showcase Nova Scotia to international investors and encourage innovation and collaboration within the province.”