Jun 14, 2005. /Lesprom Network/. A crippling shutdown of Finland's vital paper industry entered its fifth week Monday, as pressure mounted on unions and employers to find a solution in labor talks mediated by the national conciliator. A May 18 lockout by employers -- preceded by strikes and protests by workers -- has closed mills nationwide, including at some of the world's biggest paper makers, UPM-Kymmene Corp. and Stora Enso Oyj., costing the country hundreds of millions of dollars in lost earnings. The forest industry said the shutdown will continue until the end of June unless an agreement is reached. Monday's talks were the first since unions rejected a solution by National Conciliator Juhani Salonius on June 5. Employers at the time said they would have accepted it. No details or timetable of Monday's talks were given. Major points of contention between the unions and employers included the use of temporary workers and holiday shutdowns. Employers demand that mills be kept running during Christmas and the long midsummer weekend, as in other branches of industry. Unions say the compensation offered for such work is insufficient, and they also oppose industry plans to limit paid sick leave and some benefits. Unions in other industrial sectors also were preparing to take supportive action later this week at forest industry-related plants. The government has warned that a prolonged dispute could mean a substantial reduction in economic growth this year -- the paper industry accounts for 8% of the country's gross domestic product and about a third of exports. Finland's paper production accounts for 15% of the world's total and analysts have said that the shutdown could also lead to a hike in global paper prices and even shortages. The shutdown is costing the forest industry Euro 40 million ($49 million) a day in lost production, and unions have paid out more than Euro 8 million ($10 million) in compensation to striking workers. The Finance Ministry said the government and local municipalities have lost at least Euro 25 million ($30 million) in tax earnings during the shutdown. Transport companies that deliver timber to mills and ready paper rolls to ports for export have reported weekly losses of some Euro 10 million ($12 million).