In Focus
Åland gave Finnish Maria a Nordic language boost
Improved self-confidence, great experiences together with other Nordjobb workers and useful language training. These are the best memories from Maria Karjalainen’s time working through Nordjobb. Her job was in Åland – exotic enough for a student from Rovaniemi in northern Finland.
Nordic and German trade unions join forces for the green transition
Nordic trade unions should work with their colleagues in Germany to make sure the green transition happens in a just way. Together they can be strong enough to get this trade union perspective on the agenda.
Danish world first: a circular and sustainable building
In 2023, 60 Danish families will move into a cutting edge building made from climate-friendly materials that can be recycled or reused. This kind of sustainable and circular construction is being accelerated and the Nordics are playing an important role.
Construction industry high up on Nordic climate agenda
The Nordic countries are working intensively together to reduce the climate impact from the construction industry both in the region and elsewhere in the EU.
Passionate about seaweed: healthy, tasty and plentiful
Seaweed has been rediscovered as a resource with a range of uses point out ecopreneurs and researchers. But it is also under threat from human activities.
The many ways in which seaweed can save the environment
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
The number of petrol stations has slowly fallen for many years. Soon there will be more EV chargers than petrol stations in Norway.
Green transition brings big industry to northern Sweden
The construction of Northvolt’s electric car battery factory in Skellefteå in Västerbotten County represents one of the largest industrial investments in Swedish history. Within five years, 3,000 people will be employed to produce a car battery that is environmentally friendly to produce and to use.
Nordic equality: small annual changes but a long-term revolution
2020 became a bit of a gap year for gender equality, according to the Nordic Labour Journal barometer. It measures whether 24 positions of power in each of the Nordic countries are being held by a woman or man on 8 March. Like last year, women got 83 points. 100 points equals total equality.
Nordic cooperation to secure equality for LGBTI people
Children, young people and seniors are important priority groups for equality ministers’ cooperation on LGBTI rights.
What is it really like to be LGBTI in Norway today?
Norway’s LGBTI community is more exposed than ever and their living conditions should therefore be studied. So say young people in Trondheim’s gay milieu, and get support from a gender researcher.
EU minimum wage directive: last stand for the Nordics?
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.
Yellow card from Sweden and Denmark to proposed minimum wages in the EU
The Swedish and Danish parliaments want the EU Commission to withdraw the proposed directive on statutory minimum wages. Both parliaments have used the so-called yellow card procedure, arguing the proposal is in breach of the EU’s principle of subsidiarity.
What solidarity? Minimum wages split Nordic and EU unions
The disagreement over the EU’s proposed directive on statutory minimum wages throws the issue of solidarity into focus. But it also highlights the alienation and poor pay and conditions found across many sectors in Europe.
Six MEPs' views on statutory minimum wages
The proposed directive on statutory minimum wages has still not been through the European Parliament. But just over one year ago, with a clear 422-131 majority, it called on the Commission to present a proposal to secure a fair minimum wage for all workers in the Union.
Four researchers' take on the minimum wage
A positive move for low-income earners in Europe or the hollowing out of the Nordic collective agreement model? When researchers look at the EU’s proposed directive on statutory minimum wages, the analysis changes according to the area of research and perspectives.
Jon Erik Dølvik: Stored demand could help create jobs
The largest research project ever to be financed by the employment ministers at the Nordic Council of Ministers was about to conclude just as the Corona pandemic hit. How will the pandemic and the economic crisis in its wake impact on the advice the researchers will give on the future of work?
Nordic labour law must face the future
Is Nordic labour law ready to face the future of work? New technology and ways of working are already putting pressure on established structures, but experts believe there is light at the end of the tunnel.
17 types of employment – and the rest
The Nordics have not become a region of freelancers, but there is a growing multitude of different forms of labour. The Corona pandemic has also made life for people with non-standard work even more precarious, confirmed experts at a Nordic conference on the future of work.
Future of work: Is there space for people with disabilities?
There is no lack of technology to help people with disabilities enter the labour market. The main obstacle remains attitudes among employers and in society as a whole. More than a quick fix is needed to move beyond this.
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