News — Nordic Labour Journal

From opera to Slush – how #metoo is changing the Nordics

(Dec 08, 2017) The global #metoo campaign, which sheds light on sexual harassment and aims to break the culture of the silence surrounding it, has arrived in the Nordics. Many groups in Sweden, from actors and journalists to lawyers and trade union members, have signed petitions. We take a closer look at the situation in Denmark and Finland.

Metoo - also at the Oslo ministers' meeting

(Dec 08, 2017) "This is a huge thing," says an engaged Ylva Johansson, Sweden's Minister for Employment. The working environment was a topic for debate during the Oslo labour ministers' meeting. There she explained the scale of #metoo in Sweden. Next year her country will be heading the Nordic Council of Ministers, focussing on integration, the future of work and measures to stop work-related crime.

Three party coalition in Iceland: Tough tasks for new minister

(Dec 07, 2017) There are some tough tasks ahead for Iceland’s new Minister of Social Affairs and Equality Ásmundur Einar Daðason, who is also responsible for labour market issues. The Minister’s most important job will be to maintain peace and understanding in the Icelandic labour market.

Norwegian barometer highlights importance of collective decision-making

(Dec 06, 2017) Changes and reorganisations are far less conflict-prone if employees both participate in and have influence over the process. Yet the trend is increasingly moving towards more authoritarian management models where standardisation and control are the most important factors. These are some of the results from this year’s barometer on collective decision-making in Norway.

Newly arrived depend on social networks to find jobs

(Nov 23, 2017) 70 percent of newly arrived people in Sweden found jobs through social networks, compared to the 16 percent who found jobs via the employment service. The employment gap between native Swedes and those born abroad is still wide, however. It is particularly hard for people those with no upper secondary education, and for women.

Sweden: New jobs model for refugees and long-term unemployed

(Nov 23, 2017) The Confederation of Swedish Enterprise and the Swedish Trade Union Confederation (LO) have reached an agreement in principle to make it easier for refugees and long-term unemployed to find jobs in Sweden. To make the agreement binding, both organisations’ affiliates must accept it. It is also dependent on public financing of parts of the workers’ wages.

Katrín Jakobsdóttir tipped as Iceland's new Prime Minister

(Nov 17, 2017) Iceland’s Left-Green Movement (VG) won Iceland’s parliamentary elections in late October. Party leader Katrín Jakobsdóttir will most probably become Prime Minister in a coalition government. Katrín would be the country’s second female head of government after Jóhanna Sigurðardóttir.

Gothenburg EU summit: “We are taking the Nordic model to Europe"

(Nov 16, 2017) The mood was very good as trade unions and voluntary organisations met ahead of the EU summit focusing on the social pillar.

Nordic Council Helsinki session: Promising deeper labour market cooperation

(Nov 03, 2017) The 69th session of the Nordic Council in Helsinki had a celebratory air as Finland was marking its centenary as an independent nation. Labour market issues formed a common thread throughout the session.

Continuing education gets huge push from Danish government and social partners

(Nov 02, 2017) The Danish government and the social partners have agreed to spend nearly 2.5 billion Danish kroner (€335m) on continuing education for more workers. The agreement has broad political backing, but one labour market expert wonders whether it goes far enough.

The Nordic Labour Journal – also on Facebook

(Nov 01, 2017) You can now access news and debates about the Nordic labour market on Facebook. The Nordic Labour Journal highlights trends and policies, and also stories from working life.

Danish sharing economy strategy just a first step

(Oct 20, 2017) The government’s long-awaited sharing economy strategy is a first, small step towards regulating the sharing economy in Denmark, but the social partners agree more needs to be done.

Native language disappearing from Icelandic workplaces

(Oct 20, 2017) Iceland is experiencing enormous growth. Every year thousands of foreigners arrive to help Icelanders in the labour market. Tourism represents the largest area of growth, followed by the construction industry. The English language is increasingly being used within both trades. Many Icelanders are worried about the Icelandic language’s position in the multicultural society.

TBU at 50: Wage formation – the Norwegian model’s unique attribute

(Oct 05, 2017) The basis for the Norwegian version of the Nordic model is a shared understanding of reality before the parties begin wage negotiations. The result has been few conflicts and narrow pay gaps.

Icelandic continuing education: “Employees became more interested in their jobs"

(Sep 15, 2017) One in three adult Icelanders had no more than an elementary school education in the year 2000, and got no continuing education through their work. Since then, the social partners have developed a learning centre for further training of people with lower education levels. This has helped reduce the share of lower educated. It used to be 33 percent, now it is 25 percent of the low-educated workforce.