Gender equality of historic proportions

For the first time ever, power is equally shared between men and women in Norway, according to the Nordic Labour Journal’s gender equality barometer. Norway has more women in positions of power, in boardrooms and in work than any other Nordic country. 40 years of Nordic cooperation has inspired progress. Different nations have led the way at different times. Finland has the most female boardroom members in the EU. Sweden is busy getting more women into leadership positions. Denmark’s government sees gender equality as the key to integration. Things are happening elsewhere too. After Italy introduced gender quotas, women have flocked into boardrooms and half of the Renzi government are women.

Mar 05, 2013 | Foto: Erlend Aas, Scanpix

Norway’s new centre-right government makes the country gender neutral numbers-wise. The two most powerful women, Prime Minister Erna Solberg and Minister for Finance Siv Jensen, demonstrates how the little difference is shrinking

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Latest news: Unique judgement - managers guilty of employee’s suicide (Mar 05, 2014) In Sweden two managers at a social services centre were found guilty in February of causing an employee’s depression and suicide. The judgement is unique. Never before has an employer been found guilty of causing psychological illness, and regardless of whether it is overturned on appeal this judgement serves as a wake-up call for Swedish employers.; Mikael Sjöberg new head of the Swedish Public Employment Service (Mar 03, 2014) The Swedish Public Employment Service has a new Director-General. Mikael Sjöberg comes from the post as Director-General at the Swedish Work Environment Authority. The Employment Service’s former head was fired in August last year.; Fewer deaths at work (Feb 11, 2014) The number of deaths in Nordic workplaces continues to fall, according to preliminary figures collected by NLJ for last year from Finland, Sweden and Denmark. But there has been an increase in fatal accident in Norway, a trend which has repeated itself for the past three years.; Recommendations ready for new Danish employment policy (Feb 06, 2014) There will be major changes to measures aimed at unemployed people on benefit if the Danish government follows the recently published recommendations from the so-called Carsten Koch committee. A new employment policy is expected to be ready before the summer recess.; Renewed focus on Danish working environments (Feb 06, 2014) Denmark’s construction industry will fight to limit workplace accidents. It’s the latest in a range of government initiatives aimed at improving the physical work environment.; All news

Recent articles: Editorial: Women strongest in times of change (Mar 05, 2014) Comments Nordic countries have cooperated on gender equality for 40 years. Now it’s paying off. The Nordic Labour Journal’s gender equality barometer shows Norway is a world leader in equality. For the first time ever, women and men have an equal share of positions of power.; The salary gap: a stain on Finland’s reputation (Mar 05, 2014) Portrait When it comes to female representation in business and politics, Finland is a leader in the EU in a range of fields. The Ombudsman for Equality, Pirkko Mäkinen, is particularly pleased with the fact that Finland has better female representation in boardrooms than any other EU country - 27 percent - without having to use gender quotas. Compared to its Nordic neighbours, Finland even has a high proportion of women in political positions of power. But apart from that, she finds little cause for celebration.; Editorial: Who can come, who can stay and who deserves a worthy life? (Feb 11, 2014) Comments Sweden is a strong proponent for a generous and open immigration policy. The differences between the Nordic countries become clear. Minister for Integration Erik Ullenhag stands out when he talks to the Nordic Labour Journal and warns against what he sees to be developing in several European countries — anti-immigrant parties on the rise and a general move towards stricter and more immigrant-critical policies. Nevertheless, new measures for better integration is being promoted by many.; Solveig Horne, minister with a blue-blue view of Norwegian integration (Feb 11, 2014) Portrait “I am now in government,” says the Progress Party’s Minister of Children, Equality and Social Inclusion Solveig Horne. She will stick to the cooperation agreement with the Conservatives and the supporting parties the Liberals and Christian Democrats. There’s a lot of good Progress Party politics right there, says the government minister. She has “no comment” about party colleagues who call for more Progress Party politics.; Kaj Leo Johannesen: The Faroe Islands’ challenge is to keep hold of its youths (Dec 11, 2013) Portrait Since 28 August the Faroe Islands have been boycotted by the EU and Norway because of a dispute over North Atlantic herring and mackerel. Faroese vessels are banned from landing these two species in the EU, Prime Minister Kaj Leo Johannesen tells the Nordic Labour Journal.; Editorial: The part time debate needs broadening (Nov 08, 2013) Comments Part time work is one of the most important issues in the Nordic gender equality debate. The gap might be narrowing, but women still work more part time than men. This is a question of money, culture and morals, but where lecturing might not be the best tool if you want to change things.; All articles

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Pirkko Mäkinen: The salary gap is a stain on Finland’s reputation

Finland's Ombudsman for Equality Pirkko Mäkinen thinks Finns have become gender blind: people seem to think gender equality has been achieved, and that it is time to move on to other difficult issues. This is one of the reasons why immigration issues are being debated much more than women’s problems in working life.

“It is disconcerting. Young people are very equal and they encounter the problems only when they enter into the labour market, like when women return to work after maternal leave and their work tasks no longer exist,” Pirkko Mäkinen tells the Nordic Labour Journal.
“When it comes to salary gaps, we are in the middle, or even a bit below,” she says.