News
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WHISTLEBLOWERS
New whistleblower act challenges Sweden’s unique freedom of expression
Aug 18, 2022
Freedom of expression is enshrined in the Swedish constitution, and no other country has more far-reaching protection for employees who want to go public with irregularities in the workplace. As a result, expectations of a new whistleblower act were high. Criticism came fast.
News
Iceland’s union chief quits among infighting
Aug 18, 2022
The has been an increasing conflict within the labour unions in Iceland for the past few years. Now it has reached a new level as Drífa Snædal, the President of the Icelandic Confederation of Labour, resigned from her post on 10 August.
News
Norway’s labour shortages stretch to “the furthest island”
Aug 18, 2022
The lack of qualified labour has become a major problem in many places in the Nordics. In the Norwegian county of Trøndelag unemployment has never been lower. This can also be felt on Frøya, an island of some 5,000 people.
News
Sweden lands new landmark main agreement
Aug 18, 2022
Finally, the large labour law reform which has been called a structural shift for the Swedish model is in place. LO, PTK Council for Negotiation and Cooperation and the Confederation of Swedish Enterprise have signed the new basic agreement on “security, transition and employment protection”.
Comments
Are left-handers discriminated against?
Aug 11, 2022
13 August is Left Handers Day. The day celebrates the uniqueness and differences of left-handed people and was launched 46 years ago. Yet it has still not had a major impact, and it remains a bit of a mystery why left-handed people have never organised better.
Editorial
Green aims in uncertain times
May 26, 2022
One of the most important goals for the Nordic labour market cooperation is to make sure the right knowledge and skills are available to meet the demands of the green transition. But new and surprising challenges must also be dealt with.
tema
Green industry makes Swedish Luleå try to grow three times faster
May 26, 2022
There is a race on in Northern Sweden. Enormous investments in new technology give the largest of the Nordic countries the chance to compete with others to be the first to kickstart the green transition. It is a challenge for businesses and for civil society.
tema
Trailblazing development of green steel in Swedish Boden
May 26, 2022
Mass production of fossil-free steel is to be the arrowhead of the green transition in Northern Sweden. The initiative aims to mitigate climate change and meet the world’s needs for sustainability. With it come many new jobs and a need for new housing.
tema
Image of macho Northern Swedish man must go to secure recruitment
May 26, 2022
A gun on his back, snus tobacco under his lip and a misogynistic worldview, he drives around on his scooter. This image of the primitive Norrlänning – a person from Sweden’s northernmost county – became ingrained with the 1996 movie The Hunters. Now Northern Sweden is hunting for people to carry out the so-called green revolution, and that image has to go.
News
Arvika: Where EU temporary protection directive is turned into housing, jobs and schooling
May 26, 2022
By May 2022, 12.5 million Ukrainians were fleeing the war. 5.5 million have fled abroad and are covered by the EU’s temporary protection directive. 134 of them have arrived in Arvika in Sweden’s Western Värmland, which has now signed an agreement with the Swedish Migration Board to settle refugees long term.
News
Nordic focus on new jobs without discrimination
May 26, 2022
Upskilling and gender equality will be central to the Nordic countries’ labour market cooperation in the coming years.
News
After a couple of yellow cards – EU agreement on Swedish startup jobs
May 26, 2022
Sweden will be able to spend 404 million euro in state support for so-called etableringsjobb – or entry jobs – for newly arrived and long-term unemployed people. That is now clear as the European Commission has approved a completely new model for encouraging companies to hire people who find it particularly hard to access the Swedish labour market.
News
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BORDERS
Hopes dashed on the Finnish-Russian border
May 26, 2022
“Parikkala is a municipality people usually drive right past,” says Mayor Vesa Huuskonen, with only a hint of humour. Parikkala is an agricultural municipality with an ageing population in South-Western Finland, right on the border with Russia. Plans for an international border crossing have been scrapped because of the changed international situation.
News
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BORDERS
Border trade crisis: Zsar's luxury fashion tempts neither Russians nor Finns in Vaalimaa
May 26, 2022
Some of the shops in Zsar Outlet Village are having closing down sales. Most offer 30 to 70% discounts on well-known brands meant to tempt Russian tourists to shop right next to the border crossing with Finland.
News
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BORDERS
Parikkala goes for maids, whitefish and an unusual sculpture park
May 26, 2022
There is an old saying that "the maids from Parikkala and the whitefish from Simpeljärvi are better than anywhere else". The maid is now a sculpture in the city centre while the whitefish is swimming in the lake. But a sculpture park with 255 concrete statues doing yoga is by far the biggest draw.
Editorial
Social sustainability under pressure from many sides
Apr 25, 2022
Street battles in Sweden between people from disadvantaged areas and the police have less to do with a Danish politician wanting to burn the Koran and more to do with a lack of social glue between different groups.
tema
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Borders
The train to Russia stopped running. Lappeenranta limps on.
Apr 25, 2022
The borderless Nordic region turned out to be an illusion during the pandemic. It hit the Øresund region, border trade between Sweden and Norway and the citizens of Haparanda and Tornio. But Finland has an eastern border where traffic has ceased because of the pandemic. Today the war in Ukraine has made the situation even worse for Lappeenranta – the city with the closest links with Russia.
tema
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Borders
Russians in Finland "not fooled by Russian propaganda"
Apr 25, 2022
Maria Taina-Parviainen is one of many Russians who have moved across the border to Lappeenranta. 21 years ago she moved from the Leningrad region to take up an apprenticeship in Finland.
Portrait
MEP Jytte Guteland: another Swedish climate champion
Apr 25, 2022
After eight years as an MEP and chief negotiator for EU’s climate legislation, Social Democrat Jytte Guteland is ready to leave the European Parliament to run for a seat in the Swedish one.
News
Nordics split as EU minimum wage proposal delayed
Apr 25, 2022
Is time almost up for the proposed European minimum wage? Much is pointing in that direction. The war in Ukraine and the French presidential election has put breaks on the issue. And there is still great disagreement within the EU.
a