Reforms — Nordic Labour Journal

Swedish MEPs: Climate crucial in EU elections

(Apr 29, 2024) In the EU it is often said that the green transition will bring future jobs, but now the EU’s main climate actions are threatened. As June’s European Parliamentary elections approach, far-right parties want to either change or tear up existing decisions in the EU Green Deal and Fit for 55. The conservative EPP group is also looking at putting the brakes on the climate transition.

Claes-Mikael Ståhl: Money and solidarity needed for the green transition

(Apr 29, 2024) Right-wing populists are gaining ground in Europe and if they get more power in the Parliament, ambitions for the green transition and for a social and just Europe risk being pushed back. "We worry about even more push-backs in the future," says Claes-Mikael Ståhl, the European Trade Union Congress Deputy General Secretary.

EU’s labour market wish list “could crash with the Nordic model”

(Apr 29, 2024) The EU Parliament has drawn up a huge wish list for the labour market. Top social democrat candidate Johan Danielsson believes it contains reasonable demands. "The Nordic region has a lot to gain from improved working and living conditions in the rest of Europe, says Danielsson.

AI – a threat to Nordic democracy?

(Mar 25, 2024) How will artificial intelligence influence democracy? That was the big question during the marking of Nordic Day in Oslo. Do not think the EU’s AI Act will solve all our problems, the warning went.

Norway needs better flood defences after extreme weather "Hans"

(Sep 26, 2023) Norwegian companies believe we must expect more extreme weather. The Confederation of Norwegian Enterprise NHO wants more and better preparedness measures. The clean-up after "Hans" means a lot of work for the infrastructure construction industry but less capacity for the construction of new public buildings like schools and care homes.

Finland’s new government wants major changes to labour law

(Sep 26, 2023) A new centre-right government started governing in Finland on 20 June after winning April’s elections, and there is now talk of an historic paradigm change. Petteri Orpo’s four party coalition wants to make major changes in the labour market.

The Swedes studying on nearly full pay

(Oct 28, 2022) Up to 80 % pay. That is how much adults in Sweden on permanent contracts can be paid if they want to study in order to improve their basic education or change careers. Applications started flowing in as soon as the new support scheme became available.

What is “real” work?

(Sep 22, 2022) Our need to be seen and appreciated is often as important or more important to us than pay. But what happens when the boss is an algorithm? Our theme this time is artificial intelligence, AI, and the Nordic labour market. That is quite a lot to chew on, so we only have space to take a few bites.

AI – threat or opportunity?

(Sep 22, 2022) In a new report on artificial intelligence for worker management, the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work warns against what could happen if the technology is misapplied in workplaces. At the same time, AI is considered crucial for digital green change both in the Nordics and the Baltics.

Fiskars – the ironworks village that changed its spots

(Sep 22, 2022) The Fiskars ironworks was in decline but became a culture and tourism village. Here, the idea of labour has really changed – and it has paid off.

Green aims in uncertain times

(May 26, 2022) One of the most important goals for the Nordic labour market cooperation is to make sure the right knowledge and skills are available to meet the demands of the green transition. But new and surprising challenges must also be dealt with.

Green industry makes Swedish Luleå try to grow three times faster

(May 26, 2022) There is a race on in Northern Sweden. Enormous investments in new technology give the largest of the Nordic countries the chance to compete with others to be the first to kickstart the green transition. It is a challenge for businesses and for civil society.

Hopes dashed on the Finnish-Russian border

(May 26, 2022) “Parikkala is a municipality people usually drive right past,” says Mayor Vesa Huuskonen, with only a hint of humour. Parikkala is an agricultural municipality with an ageing population in South-Western Finland, right on the border with Russia. Plans for an international border crossing have been scrapped because of the changed international situation.

The hole that must be filled: the energy crisis and EU's green transition

(Mar 25, 2022) There had never been so much money for the green transition in Europe as there was in February 2022. But then Russia started its war against Ukraine. Europe answered by cutting the import of gas and other fossil fuels from Russia. How will this impact on the green transition? Will it speed up or must someone pull the emergency brake? The answer might be both.

Will Greenland get the mining adventure off the ground?

(Dec 08, 2021) Greenland is about to introduce a range of reforms aimed at creating a well-functioning labour market and a stable framework for foreign investments in industries like mining.

The green transition needs public support

(Apr 29, 2021) The green transition and Greenland. Are the two linked? The election result which turned the power balance upside down on the island was influenced by a controversial mining project. It promised an abundance of rare earth materials needed for lithium batteries that are used in electric cars and wind turbines.

The many ways in which seaweed can save the environment

(Apr 29, 2021) In Denmark, researchers, companies, authorities and interest organisations have come together in Tang Nu (Danish for Seaweed Now), a project exploring how seaweed farming might help create cleaner oceans and how to use seaweed biomass as food and animal feed.

Norwegian petrol stations might fall victim to EVs

(Apr 29, 2021) The number of petrol stations has slowly fallen for many years. Soon there will be more EV chargers than petrol stations in Norway.

Nordic cooperation during extreme times

(Mar 24, 2021) The Nordic Council of Ministers is 50 this year. Meanwhile, the cooperation between the Nordic countries is being challenged more than ever since 1971. But many things have also worked and we have gained new insight into the importance of our open borders.

EU minimum wage directive: last stand for the Nordics?

(Jan 22, 2021) 2021 looks set to be the year when the issue of statutory minimum wages in Europe will be settled. The debate has lasted a long time and opinions are divided, but on 28 October 2020, the EU Commission finally presented a proposed directive which will be processed by the European Council and the EU Parliament.