In focus
Nordic working environment authorities with different views on social dumping
Apr 06, 2017 Nordic countries must make comprehensive changes to their working environment policies in the face of new ways of working and more posted workers from the EU. Everyone seems to agree that working environment issues are getting increasingly important, yet there are major differences in how the different countries handle the challenges – not least when it comes to social dumping.
In focus
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Feb 2017
Refugees bring new life to Finnish Punkalaidun, known for its coffins
Feb 02, 2017 The road to Punkalaidun is beautiful, but treacherously winding and slippery in the wintertime. This is far out into the countryside. The municipality is more than 150 kilometres north-west of Helsinki.
In focus
Nordic working life facing up to changing times
Dec 15, 2016 The labour market is changing. When the Nordic labour ministers met in Helsinki on 29 November, the integration of refugees into the labour market and challenges like demographics, new technology and a fragmented labour market were among the central issues. Together with the ILO, the discussion carried on around the future of work and gender equality.
In focus
The threat to Nordic freedom of movement
Apr 19, 2016 “The aim must be to normalise the situation and to remove borders obstacles when the refugee situation comes back under control,” says Bente Stein Mathisen, chair of the welfare committee at the Nordic Council. But before that happens, Danish politicians want to introduce new obstacles – this time for travellers between Sweden and Denmark. Refugees, border obstacles and integration are themes when the Nordic Council meet in Oslo on 19 April.
In focus
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Nov 2015
Refugees - burden or resource?
Nov 27, 2015 In a short amount of time refugees’ chances of getting to the Nordic countries have been dramatically reduced. In the first ten months of 2015 , before the tightening of rules, more than 170,000 people applied for asylum in a Nordic country. Many of the new arrivals will be turned down. The Nordic region will still get a solid boost of labour. The future challenge will be integration. Are refugees a threat to Nordic welfare societies? Can refugees be included in working life without lowering wages and risking the creation of a new economic underclass?
In focus
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Sep 2015
Shadow economies - the Nordic strategies
Sep 29, 2015 Carrot or stick? The Nordic countries have different strategies for fighting the shadow economy. Finland and Sweden have used tax incentives to make it cheaper to buy declared labour. Norway and Denmark use controls as a main tool. In Norway six authorities coordinate the work, while Denmark's new government feels controls have gone too far.
In focus
Nordjobb 30 years: creating the future Nordic enthusiasts
Jun 22, 2015 Nordjobb is one of the most concrete of the many Nordic cooperation projects. Giving 750 youths the chance to spend a few months working in a different country might not sound like much. But the experience changes many people's view of the Nordic region. For others the experience is life-changing.
In focus
PIAAC Nordic: many adults poor at problem solving using computers
May 21, 2015 Nordic countries get top scores in OECD’s survey of adult competencies. Now new comparative Nordic research reveals that far from everyone is on the winning team. A surprising 10 percent of the population have poor skills in literacy, numeracy and problem solving using a PC.
In focus
A Nordic helping hand to marginalised youths
Apr 15, 2015 A large group of youths are not in education, employment or training - so-called NEETs. There is increased focus across Europe on ways to prevent this group of young people from permanently falling outside of the labour market. The Nordic countries have good experiences with finding, motivating and preparing these youths for work.
In focus
Faith, gender and the Nordic region
Mar 05, 2015 Magdalena Andersson and Margot Wallström in Sweden’s feminist government lift the country’s position in this year’s gender equality barometer. For the fifth year running the Nordic Labour Journal measures gender equality using our own barometer. It shows steadily improving gender equality in the Nordic region. This year we focus on churches where women are conquering top positions, Denmark where women are entering the boardrooms and Sweden’s drive for critical innovation with women in the lead.
In focus
The minimum wage — fit for the Nordic region?
Feb 07, 2015 While Nordic trade unions consider a minimum wage to be a catastrophe, employees in many other EU countries see it as protection against social dumping and unreasonable labour market conditions. We have to debate a statutory minimum wage so that everybody can see the strengths of the Nordic collective agreement system, and the value this represents for employees and for society as a whole, says Bente Sorgenfrey, President for the Council of Nordic Trade Unions.
In focus
The sharing economy threatens Nordic trade unions
Dec 12, 2014 The sharing economy is a brand new phenomenon which has exploded into fast moving marketplaces with names like Uber, Netflix and Airbnb. It’s all about renting, not owning — be it a car, a boat, a bike or using your own home to make a little extra cash. New online technology creates new opportunities for both consumers and producers, without anyone really knowing the future extent or consequences of this market. The Nordic Labour Journal looks at how the sharing economy is shaping up in Denmark, Finland and Sweden, and how it affects the labour market.
In focus
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