News 2024 — Nordic Labour Journal

Lava-hit Icelandic town: "We don't know when we can rebuild"

Grindavík has been largely empty since 10 November. The 4000 inhabitants of the Icelandic fishing town on the south coast of the Reykjanes Peninsula had to move as a lava corridor formed partly underneath the town, causing strong earthquakes and a lot of ground movement.

Lava-hit Icelandic town: "We don't know when we can rebuild" - Read More…

Karen Ellemann: All of the Nordics in Nato “positive in every way”

The Secretary General of the Nordic Council of Ministers believes Nordic cooperation will be even stronger when all of the Nordic countries are Nato members. But during the Arctic Frontiers conference in Tromsø, Karen Ellemann repeated that a council of defence ministers is not presently being planned.

Karen Ellemann: All of the Nordics in Nato “positive in every way” - Read More…

500 years of Nordic history

What could you do on Nordic Day on 23 March to feel a bit Nordic? One thing is to go and see the big exhibition Nordic Life at the Nordic Museum in Stockholm. Svenska Dagbladet calls it “perfect”.

500 years of Nordic history - Read More…

Immigrants struggle to find work in the Nordics despite labour shortages

Many immigrants in Nordic countries are left without jobs, despite labour shortages. The Finnish company Snellman has a lot of experience with hiring immigrants. “Immigrants are very keen on getting a job and they are keen workers. They are loyal employees,” says head of HR Ann-Marie Eklund.

Immigrants struggle to find work in the Nordics despite labour shortages - Read More…

Threats to Swedish social service workers: New inquiry proposes stricter legislation

Threats and harassment against public officials in Sweden are commonplace and on the rise. This has major consequences for individual employees and risks undermining democracy in the long term. A new public inquiry proposes stricter penalties for violence towards public officials as well as making it a crime to insult public officials.

Threats to Swedish social service workers: New inquiry proposes stricter legislation - Read More…

Unexpected delay of the EU platform directive

There is a race against time to land the EU directive on platform work. In December, it looked like the issue was being solved, but then nearly half of the member states’ governments gave it a thumbs-down, including the Finnish and Swedish ones.

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

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.

Paulina Brandberg – the Minister for Equality who wants to take a tough stance - Read More…

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

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.

Major increase in applications: Iceland’s government seeks tighter immigration rules - Read More…

AI – a threat to Nordic democracy?

How will artificial intelligence influence democracy? That was the big question during the marking of Nordic Day in Oslo. Do not think the EU’s AI Act will solve all our problems, the warning went.

AI – a threat to Nordic democracy? - Read More…

EU directive gives Nordic platform workers new hope

The EU platform work directive is in place at last. It should help platform workers in the Nordic EU countries who work for companies like Foodora and Wolt to secure decent working conditions. In Norway, this was solved at the start of this year through a change to the working environment act.

EU directive gives Nordic platform workers new hope - Read More…

Leaders' lack of knowledge about the Norwegian model threatens competitiveness

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.

Leaders' lack of knowledge about the Norwegian model threatens competitiveness - Read More…

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

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.

Iceland’s Katrín Jakobsdóttir runs for president, triggering major changes - Read More…

Estonia welcomes Sweden and Finland into Nato

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.

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Faroese independence is suddenly back on the table

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.

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When the Nordic open labour market ended overnight

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.

When the Nordic open labour market ended overnight - Read More…

Danish farmers “exploiting foreign interns”

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.

Danish farmers “exploiting foreign interns” - Read More…

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

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.

Finnish future report: Youths worry about fitting into the labour market - Read More…

How do you stop the exploitation of foreign labour?

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.

How do you stop the exploitation of foreign labour? - Read More…

Young Norwegians increasingly unhappy with working life

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.

Young Norwegians increasingly unhappy with working life - Read More…

Mixed Nordic reception for EU traineeship directive

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.

Mixed Nordic reception for EU traineeship directive - Read More…

Security issues drive political changes in Nordics and EU

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.

Security issues drive political changes in Nordics and EU - Read More…

Swedish strip club challenges ban on night work

Should the employees at the strip club Club Heartbeat be allowed to work all night? No, says the Swedish Work Environment Authority. Yes, says the club’s owner, referring to a new collective agreement that allows exceptions to the Working Hours Act.

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New Nuuk airport could provide lift for Greenland’s labour market

Direct cross-Atlantic flights to Nuuk could bring even more tourists to Greenland and in the long term encourage Greenlandic youths to get an education and find work in their home country.

New Nuuk airport could provide lift for Greenland’s labour market - Read More…

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

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.

Nordic governments' sigh of relief as collective bargaining rights still intact - Read More…

Iceland facing watershed moment as PM calls snap elections

Iceland is heading for snap elections in November after the right-left coalition of Bjarni Benediktsson collapsed in October over a range of disagreements. Political scientists were not surprised and some predict a watershed moment in Icelandic politics.

Iceland facing watershed moment as PM calls snap elections - Read More…

Improved Nordic labour market statistics provide better insights

The Nordic Statistics Database, a collaboration between the Nordic Council of Ministers and the Swedish statistics and research company Statisticon, has undergone huge developments. This will benefit anyone working with comparative Nordic assessment statistics in working life.

Improved Nordic labour market statistics provide better insights - Read More…

Finland: Strong collaboration against work-related crime

The shadow economy and economic crime, illegal work and the exploitation of labour will be some of the priorities when Finland takes over the Presidency of the Nordic Council of Ministers in 2025.

Finland: Strong collaboration against work-related crime - Read More…