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- “Part time employment can create a two-tier labour market"
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The large number of part time jobs does not create much enthusiasm within Danish trade unions. During negotiations they usually argue that all employees should be given a chance to work full time.
Members of FTF - the Confederation of Professionals in Denmark - include educators and nurses, the two professions with the largest number of part time employees. FTF’s convention manager Klaus Matthiesen points out that a large number of part time jobs can create a two-tier labour market where part time employees represent the weaker group.
He is not assuaged by the new report from the Nordic Council of Ministers which shows a Danish employee who has been working part time for years will end up with nearly the same economical rights in old age as someone who has worked full time all their lives.
“The difference is not so big because of the Danish state pension, which benefits people on low income. But there might not be money to pay for the same state pension scheme in 30 years. That makes part time workers vulnerable,” he says.
- Employers: more full time workers
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Employers have so far defended their right to create part time jobs, but things are changing. Danish Regions (the interest organisation for Denmark’s five regions) has presented new policies aimed at getting more people into full time work. From 1 January 2013 the majority of regional jobs will be advertised as full time. Today just under four in ten workers in the regions work part time. The new policy’s aim is for only two in ten people to work part time by 2021.
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Work Research Institute
OsloMet – Oslo Metropolitan University,
Postboks 4 St. Olavs plass, NO-0130 Oslo
The Nordic Council of Ministers is not responsible for the content