In focus
Nordic hunt for solutions to youth unemployment
May 23, 2013
26 good examples of measures that work and 600 people wanting to discuss youth unemployment. That was the impressive effort at the meeting of Nordic prime ministers and labour ministers in Stockholm on 16 May. The Nordic Labour Journal was there and this edition focuses on youth outside of the labour market.
Comments
Editorial: What to do with the youth?
May 23, 2013
Make no mistake: youth unemployment is foremost in Nordic politicians’ minds. Especially NEETs, young people not in education, employment or training. They make up between five and ten percent of Nordic youths. But what will politicians do for them?
tema
”Don’t punish us, astonish us”
May 23, 2013
To really listen to young people and see each individual in light of their own merit, cooperating across sectors while also focusing on schools - where life-long learning begins. To learn from the other Nordic countries and benefit from the common Nordic labour market - these were all themes when Nordic prime ministers and labour ministers met in Stockholm on 16 May.
tema
Youth Employment Forum showcasing the good Nordic examples
May 23, 2013
“A murderer can become a fantastic worker. He has been in prison, thinking. Employers who dare hire a former criminal get very loyal workers,” says Nanna Ravn Hansen, a consultant at High:five.
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Researchers: blunt measures against youth unemployment
May 23, 2013
It is difficult to find political measures which actually do get more young people into work. Sweden’s dramatical reduction in employer contributions for youths in 2007 and 2009 has led to few new jobs.
tema
Denmark: More focus on job rotation
May 23, 2013
Job rotation is a golden egg which gets people into employment and improves the skills of permanent staff, according to the Danish government. The social partners agree. But it takes time to get businesses to use the scheme.
tema
”Thank goodness – I’m a Svensson”
May 23, 2013
Youth unemployment is a priority for Stockholm Municipality. Considerable work is being done within the city and between the city and other authorities, in order to get young people off benefits and into work or education. Two projects show that strong support on an individual level can be a recipe for success.
tema
How hard can it be?
May 22, 2013
Businesses in the Swedish region of Södra Småland coined he phrase ‘How hard can it be?’ one year ago, when they initiated a meeting to address youth unemployment in the region. It was part corporate social responsibility and part a drive to attract more skills.
Portrait
Bjarne Brøndbo, the employer who didn’t say no after the first attempt
May 22, 2013
He stood there with his cigaret behind his ear, asking: Bjarne, where can I smoke? “That was the first thing he said to me,” says employer Bjarne Brøndbo.
News
Avoiding change-induced stress in the workplace
May 22, 2013
Changes are common in Nordic workplaces, and the social partners in Denmark are now joining forces to prevent this from causing stress.
News
New government in Iceland
May 22, 2013
Iceland has a new government. It has announced a stop to EU membership negotiations to allow time to decide whether negotiations will continue at all. It is still unclear when a referendum on EU membership will take place.
In focus
Nordic countries: conflicting views on social dumping
Apr 16, 2013
The Nordic countries have chosen different strategies for how to fight social dumping. In Norway a Supreme Court judgement on working conditions in the shipbuilding industry has strengthened the trade unions’ roll. The Danish and Swedish governments are increasing workplaces controls.Will emigration from the Baltics in the long run undermine the Baltic countries?
Comments
Editorial: Bad working conditions under pressure
Apr 16, 2013
What do you do if your colleague works twice as long at half the pay that you get? There are trades and individuals who gravely exploit cheap labour, and in times of crisis many will accept a lot in order to get a job. What is being done in the Nordic region to make sure labour market rules are being followed? The fight against social dumping is this month’s theme in the Nordic Labour Journal.
tema
Nordic region increases fight against social dumping
Apr 16, 2013
335,000 citizens from EU’s new member states moved to the Nordic region between 2004 and 2011. A considerable number of workers and service providers from these countries have also been posted there during the same period of time. Foreign labour has represented a positive contribution to the economic growth, but it has also put pressure of wages and working conditions.
tema
Norway has its Laval judgement - but this time the union won
Apr 16, 2013
On 5 March Norway’s Supreme Court passed judgement in what in Norwegian has become known as ‘verftsaken’, or the shipbuilding case. The judgement has been called the most important win for the Norwegian Confederation of Trade Unions (LO) in recent times. Losing this case could have been as significant for the fight against social dumping as the Laval case in neighbouring Sweden.
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Denmark increases fight against social dumping
Apr 16, 2013
More fines for foreign companies and labour clauses in public contracts - these are the newest weapons in Denmark’s fight against social dumping. They will have an impact on social dumping but won’t eradicate it, thinks expert.
tema
Sweden: “More social dumping” after easing of labour immigration laws
Apr 16, 2013
In December 2008 the law for labour immigration into Sweden for people from outside the EU and EEA was changed. The labour market test was abandoned and today individual employers decide whether there is a shortage of labour. Critics say this means many employees no longer are protected by the law.
tema
Emigration threatens the Baltics
Apr 16, 2013
Emigration from the Baltic countries threatens to undermine their entire social structure. Now the Nordic Council of Ministers wants to map the migration and its consequences. NLJ has met two Estonian construction workers who explain why they moved to Finland - and why they don’t plan to return.
News
ILO critical of Sweden’s handling of the Laval case
Apr 16, 2013
Sweden’s Labour Court and ”lex Laval” comes under severe criticism from the International Labour Organisation, giving the Swedish government plenty of food for thought.
Insight
ILO: Europe’s youth must get jobs and regain their confidence
Apr 16, 2013
The ILO will help put the youth guarantee into practice and make sure €6bn granted by the EU will be used to get Europe’s youth into work. The ILO will play a stronger role in helping crisis-hit European countries to improve the economic, social and political consequences of the crisis and to reestablish trust in the countries.
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