Pirkanmaa wellbeing area ends Tempore staffing deal, divests Numera stake after procurement rule change

The Tempore staffing agreement will end at the end of February and Pirkanmaa wellbeing area, known as Pirha, will give up its ownership stake in Numera. The decision follows a revision to procurement rules that bars public buyers from purchasing services from in-house companies unless they hold at least a 10 percent stake.

Pirha owns only 0.04 percent of Numera. That falls far short of the new threshold, so the region can no longer buy Tempore's temporary nursing staff without a competitive tender.

Procurement director Anniina Tirronen called the move regrettable. "This has been an affordable and good service," she said, and added the wellbeing area expects short-term costs for agency nurses to rise. The region plans to boost its own reserve staff and to source agency workers from firms that win recent tenders; Tirronen estimates purchases from Tempore this year at around five million euros.

The decision comes as Pirha is starting its fourth round of cooperation negotiations within a year. According to YLE, the next round will begin next Monday and last six weeks, affecting about 620 employees.

YLE reports that HR director Aija Tuimala said the aim is to offer alternative positions rather than blanket dismissals. Union representative Tea Taubert added that repeated negotiation rounds have left staff worried, including expectations that up to 40 people could face dismissals, as well as potential closure threats for two disability housing units and an elderly housing unit in Akaa (Mäntymäki).

In addition, YLE notes that separate negotiations are under way connected to transferring psychiatric outpatient services in Sastamala and Valkeakoski to Tampere.

Pirha recently opened co-operation talks affecting nearly 620 staff.

Tempore CEO Jaana Jantola said the company will continue to serve urgent short-term healthcare vacancies and is preparing to bid in future procurements alongside other agencies.

The region also plans to sell shares in some other in-house companies while continuing to use six in-house providers during the transition period allowed under law. It will notify the State Treasury (Valtiokonttori) about the decision, as other public bodies have already done.