In Focus
Freedom of movement sacrified to protect Finnish population
Rapid measures and tough restrictions characterised the first Finnish reactions to the corona pandemic. As the only Nordic country it locked down an entire region, which included the capital city, from the rest of Finland.
Corona crisis drives up Nordic unemployment
Unemployment has risen dramatically across the Nordics since the emergence of the coronavirus. The countries have chosen different ways of handling the situation, however, based on different labour market models, measures imposed and the shape of the labour market.
Nordic labour market crisis: Professor sees hope
The coronavirus creates a crisis for Nordic businesses and workers, but hope too of a more social and green labour market and society, argues Henning Jørgensen, Professor of labour market policy and co-author of a new book.
Everyone at the Nordic House works from home
There were doubts at first at the Nordic House in Copenhagen as the corona epidemic became a reality. Should staff be sent home or not? On the Danish Prime Minister’s orders, all 130 staff have been working from home since 11 March. One of them is Anna Rosenberg, who lives in Malmö.
A sudden stop for Nordjobb as mobility became a dirty word
For 35 years, Nordjobb has found work for 25,000 Nordic youths who have wanted to try working in a different Nordic country. This year nearly all jobs have been cancelled due to the corona crisis.
Nordic students in Europe fall victim to physical land borders
An entire generation Nordic students have grown up in a borderless Europe. Thousands are studying in other European countries. Most went back home in March as old borders started being reinstated because of the coronavirus.
Norway finally joins dual citizenship club
Norway opened up for dual citizenship on 1 January 2020, not only as the last of the Nordics but as the last country in Europe. Ironically, not long after that, the borders closed because of the corona crisis.
Hospital wants to double the number of healthcare assistants
Will hiring more health care assistants make hospitals more efficient? Nurses at St. Olavs Hospital in Trondheim, Norway, welcome the hospital management’s aim to increase the number of healthcare assistants. They are happy to leave certain working tasks to the assistants, but several conditions must be in place before this can happen.
Gender equality: Finland improves more than any other Nordic country
Denmark moves into pole position as the Nordic Labour Journal publishes the 2020 gender equality barometer. But Finland enjoys the biggest increase of women in positions of power. The result is another shared bottom place with Sweden in the comparison between the five Nordic countries.
Three minutes less unpaid work for Swedish women
We are edging ever so slowly towards equal pay, according to the annual demonstration #lönheladagen (#payallday) which was held in Stockholm’s Sergels Torg. This year the participants made the shape of the time 16:09.
Lipsticks or bulls? Finland has changed after women came to power
There are great expectations linked to the new Finnish government. International media have celebrated Finland, the land of gender equality. Women lead the government and they are also younger than ever. Many also believe the content of politics and its execution change when women are “allowed to participate”.
Confronting sexual harassment at work in Denmark
The social partners and authorities are joining forces to confront widespread harassment in Danish workplaces, particularly sexual and gender-related behaviour which new research shows to hit far more women than men – including in politics and the IT sector.
Less part-time work to secure more “warm hands”
A major and urgent lack of trained social and health care assistants – so-called SOSUs – has led to a heated debate over the widespread use of part-time jobs in Denmark’s social and health care sector.
Swedish assistant nurses want higher status through legal recognition
Assistant nurse is one of the most common professions in Sweden. 180 000 out of a total of 200 000 workers in elderly care are assistant nurses, but unlike their other Nordic colleagues, their profession is not regulated. Making this happen has long been a trade union demand and right now legislation is being prepared which might give them a protected title.
A Monday in the service of the Nordics
Paula Lehtomäki heads the secretariat for the Nordic governments’ official body of cooperation. Yet she has no lifeguards, she cycles to work and gets on the train to open a conference.
The Nordic Council of Ministers’ vision for 2030
“Now the work begins for real,” says Helle Engslund Krarup, Deputy Chief of Staff at the Secretary General’s office. At the end of an intensive process, the Nordic cooperation has a new vision. But how to execute it, and what must give in order to reach the goals within the same budget? The first answers will come in early February.
Iceland: Paternity leave a boost to men’s identity
The Nordic Gender Effect at Work is one of the Nordic prime ministers’ most important projects for the advancement of gender equality. It is considered to be an important prerequisite for a good labour market and for economic growth.
New profile leaves Nordic traces around the world
The Nordic Region is attractive, with its 27 million citizens over five countries living in peaceful coexistence. We are far from perfect, but perhaps that is what makes us fascinating. The Nordic Council of Ministers tries to look after all this by creating a Nordic brand.
The Nordics: practical and industrious cooperation
At an arrival halls café at Reykjavik airport, researchers Kristin Alsos and Jon Erik Dølvik are sat working. They are waiting for the rest of the group arriving from different Nordic countries before sharing a taxi to Hveragerði, an hour from Keflavik.
"More hard issues should be discussed at the Nordic Council"
Protect democracy, fight fake news and protect biological diversity. These are issues on the agenda for Iceland’s 2020 Presidency of the Nordic Council. Another focus area is to improve knowledge of Nordic languages.
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