The Farmers' Social Insurance Institution of Finland (Mela) has announced that 33 jobs will be terminated, and 'substantial' changes will be proposed to 24 jobs, as part of the renewal of its operations.

The negotiations, which apply to the organisation’s entire staff of approximately 200 employees, aim to improve the efficiency of Mela’s operations by modernising its operating methods and reorganising its work.

The restructuring negotiations were initiated due to a long-term decline in Mela’s client base relative to its staff size and to ensure that the organisation's structure, service methods and costs align with the changing operating environment.

As a result of structural changes in agriculture, the number of people covered by the Farmers’ Pension Insurance (MYEL) has fallen over the years, affecting Mela’s scope of responsibilities and the scale of its operations.

At the start of the negotiations on 16 April, it was estimated that a maximum of 36 employees could be dismissed, and about 40 jobs would experience material changes that needed to be addressed in the change discussions.

The changes not only aim to create a more efficient organisation but also to improve Mela's ability to respond to its customers’ changing needs. Key elements include developing digital services, reorganising work in new ways, and utilising experts' skills more flexibly.

In addition to this, Mela confirmed that it is making changes to its customer service organisation that will result in longer active customer service hours at Mela and make its regional network more accessible to its customers.

Commenting on the update, Mela CEO, Heli Backman, said: "We are an important partner for our customers in many ways, and we are more than just a pension insurer. We want to ensure that our customers continue to receive the smooth service they need from us, equally and in all situations.

"The aim of the organisational change is to ensure the high-quality performance of Mela's basic mission, strengthen the clarity of management and secure the long-term sustainability of the organisation.”

Mela will transition to the new organisational structure on 1 August 2026.

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