News — Nordic Labour Journal

Nordic governments' sigh of relief as collective bargaining rights still intact

(Oct 19, 2024) Pilots and cabin crew do not perform work of equal value, thus it is not discriminatory when pilots receive higher travel allowances. This was the somewhat anticlimactic ruling from the EU Court of Justice in a case that Sweden and Denmark feared would set a precedent that could threaten the right to free collective bargaining. That did not happen this time.

Security issues drive political changes in Nordics and EU

(Sep 19, 2024) Sweden has a new minister for employment, Denmark has established a new ministry for civil security and Finland secured one of six Executive Vice Presidents in the European Commission.

Red workers with white sails

(Sep 19, 2024) Sports and politics are closely related in Finland. For more than a century, the country has had double sports clubs – for people on the political left and the political right. Now, the Finnish Workers' Sports Federation is considering its future as fewer and fewer identify as workers and class divisions decrease.

Mixed Nordic reception for EU traineeship directive

(Aug 22, 2024) Once again, the European Commission is proposing regulations on matters that the member states manage best themselves, argues the Swedish parliament. It is now submitting a “yellow card” against the Commission's proposal for an EU directive on better conditions for trainees, put forward in spring 2024.

Young Norwegians increasingly unhappy with working life

(Aug 15, 2024) The 2024 Working Life Barometer shows more people are struggling financially, more fear losing their jobs or becoming ill and many young people are unhappy with working life.

Finnish future report: Youths worry about fitting into the labour market

(May 27, 2024) Finnish school students have become more anxious about their ability to succeed in the future job market. A new future report shows only 53 per cent of young people are enthusiastic about entering the labour market. In 2018 82 per cent said the same.

Danish farmers “exploiting foreign interns”

(May 27, 2024) Danish farmers are using cheap labour from Vietnam, Uganda, Tanzania and India by using an agricultural intern programme. Trade unions have been critical to their working conditions and have secured continued oversight of the programme.

How do you stop the exploitation of foreign labour?

(May 27, 2024) There have always been groups of foreign workers in the Nordic labour markets who are hard to define. Are they coming to work, study or as a cultural exchange? They might be au pairs, interns or berry pickers.

Estonia welcomes Sweden and Finland into Nato

(Apr 29, 2024) One year after Finland joined Nato, Sweden has also become part of the Nato family. This brings them together with Norway, Iceland and Denmark, members since the start in 1949.

When the Nordic open labour market ended overnight

(Apr 29, 2024) This summer, the common Nordic labour market will be 70 years old. But have we really been able to work freely in a neighbouring Nordic country for that whole period of time? The border between Norway and Sweden was closed for 23 months during the Corona pandemic, a new book published by the Svinesund Committee points out.

Iceland’s Katrín Jakobsdóttir runs for president, triggering major changes

(Apr 29, 2024) Prime Minster Katrín Jakobsdóttir‘s decision to step down in order to run for president of Iceland could create trouble for the government coalition she has been instrumental in keeping together.

Faroese independence is suddenly back on the table

(Apr 29, 2024) The Faroe Islands would like to become a full member of the Nordic Council. But since the Swedish Minister for Nordic Cooperation has dismissed that possibility, more Faroese politicians argue that the islands should review their role as part of the Danish realm and in the Nordic Council.

Leaders' lack of knowledge about the Norwegian model threatens competitiveness

(Apr 11, 2024) Anyone who wants to lead a Norwegian business should understand the Norwegian model. But far from all leaders do, according to Ketil Vedøy, who has spent more than 20 years as a top leader within HR and management. He participated at the launch of this year’s Medbestemmelsesbarometer (Joint decision-making barometer) at OsloMet/AFI.

Paulina Brandberg – the Minister for Equality who wants to take a tough stance

(Mar 25, 2024) What can the Nordics bring to inspire other countries to improve gender equality? Sweden’s Minister for Equality Paulina Brandberg has two rather surprising examples: High divorce numbers and changing tables in the gents.

Major increase in applications: Iceland’s government seeks tighter immigration rules

(Mar 25, 2024) There have been strong and frequent discussions about a change in the immigration system in Iceland in recent years. The reason is a huge increase in asylum applications which has proved very costly for the Icelandic state.