News
Will Sweden's new Employment Act fall foul of government crisis?
Jun 29, 2021 In early June the Swedish government presented its contribution to a reform of the Employment Act and added 11 billion kronor a year to cover retraining and studies. Then the government crisis happened and the question now is what will become of the difficult labour protection issue.
Analysis
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Corona
Post-Corona recovery more uneven than the crisis itself
Jun 29, 2021 How are the Nordic labour markets doing as the Corona pandemic is hopefully coming to an end? Will it be followed by a strong recovery or will companies that have been kept going with state support now face closure?
tema
Nordic cooperation – a must-have or nice-to-have?
Jun 29, 2021 The pandemic has led to increased polarization between the Nordic countries and trust between Nordic citizens has fallen. This is particularly true for those living far apart. In border regions, where people know each other, it has been less damaged.
News
Call for joint Nordic sanctions against countries behind cyber attacks
Jun 29, 2021 Nordic countries’ cybersecurity skills are improving, but what happens when an attacking country is identified? On 30 June, the Nordic Council will debate proposed joint Nordic sanctions in the case of cyberattacks. The proposal already has support among Norwegian researchers.
News
Future funding of geological research not so rock-solid
Jun 29, 2021 The Nordic Volcanological Centre (NordVulk) has secured scholarships for many Nordic geologists to study or do research in Iceland. They have been able to study lava of various ages and, with luck, witness a volcanic eruption. But now NordVulk's funding is no longer rock-solid.
News
100 years of autonomy: Åland celebrates
Jun 29, 2021 Åland is marking 100 years of autonomy from Finland with year-long celebrations. Not everyone wanted the autonomy solution at first, but it has turned out to be a winning ticket allowing Ålanders to create a prosperous island society. Yet Åland with its shipping and tourism industries has been hard hit by the pandemic.
tema
100 years of comfort clothes coming out of the closet
Jun 29, 2021 A current exhibition at the Helsinki Design Museum showcases the Finnish clothing company Nanso and the 100 years-old history of their everyday fashion. The theme is “The Comfort Revolution” – how comfort and wellbeing has steered fashion’s evolution towards today’s Corona fashion.
News
Cash benefit reform to fight child poverty in Denmark
Jun 29, 2021 The safety net for Denmark’s poorest – cash benefits – should be completely reformed, argues a government commission. It proposes support for leisure activities for children in poor families and the opportunity for people to do some work without losing access to cash benefits.
News
Nordic model well suited for future of work challenges
Jun 29, 2021 Nordic labour ministers met digitally on 2 June to discuss the final report from the Nordic research project on the future of work. It warns of challenges to the Nordic model, but also concludes it is the best tool in the fight against an unequal labour market.
Editorial
The many languages of working life
May 28, 2021 In this edition, we look at work from several different points of view. But in reality, it all comes down to the same thing. Work gives us an identity and experiences we would not have otherwise. That is why we are vulnerable when our professional roles are under attack. Or if we never get the chance to work.
News
The Intensive Year: 12 months to find jobs for Swedish immigrants
May 28, 2021 The Helsingborg employment service got ready as soon as the government announced its decision, and was prepared when the Intensive Year was launched on 15 April this year. One month later, 40 job seekers have been contacted. One of them is Mehmet.
News
Nordic youths want to learn more about work environments
May 28, 2021 A Nordic project could help young people learn more about work environments, starting in elementary school. The Swedish Agency for Work Environment Expertise is preparing a module for 13 to 18-year-olds to improve their work environment knowledge, and the hope is to spread this across the Nordics.
tema
Improved labour market access for sign language users
May 28, 2021 Earlier this year the Norwegian parliament passed a new language act that states that Norway is multilingual. For the first time, Norwegian sign language was recognised as the national sign language, equal to spoken and written Norwegian as a language and cultural expression.
tema
Nordic job exchange hopes to bounce back from Corona
May 28, 2021 Many Nordic cooperation platforms have been hit by the Corona pandemic. One of the higher profile ones is Nordjobb, the Nordic mobility programme for young workers. Summer jobs should be starting up now, but many are still waiting to hear from their prospective employers.
tema
Åland gave Finnish Maria a Nordic language boost
May 28, 2021 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.
News
Workplace battlegrounds: Are Norwegian employees being criminalised?
May 28, 2021 How should an employer handle workplace conflicts? In Norway, it is becoming increasingly common to hire external consultants to perform a “faktaundersøkelse” – or workplace investigation. The consultants often come from a legal or psychological background. Employees risk being exposed to situations resembling police interrogations – yet with no legal protection, warn researchers Bitten Nordrik and Tereza Østbø Kuldova.
News