Newsletter from the Nordic Labour Journal 2/2015
Editorial: More than pink — it’s about power
For the fifth year running the Nordic Labour Journal publishes the gender equality barometer. The division of power in the Nordic region is better than ever, but not across the board. This year we focus on religious societies, generally ruled by men. Nordic churches are different, with women as top bishops in Iceland, Norway and Sweden. But does power equal authority?
The Nordic region became a bit more equal this year
Never before has there been more gender equality in the Nordic countries when it comes to positions of power within politics and working life, according to the Nordic Labour Market’s barometer.
The importance of gender equality in religious societies
The really big symbolic changes sometimes happen without people noticing. The church in three of the five Nordic countries now has a woman as its highest leader. Compared to the rest of the world, this is where the Nordic region is now top when it comes to gender equality.
Agnes M. Sigurðardóttir: The Bishop who is spring cleaning the church
Bishop Agnes M. Sigurðardóttir has been sitting in her office in Laugavegur in Reykjavik city centre preparing the Sunday’s sermon in peace and quiet. Now she is sat facing me, answering my questions quietly and to the point. The first question goes straight to the point; what is it like being a bishop?
The latecomer in gender equality is waking up
Gender equality in Denmark has been falling behind the rest of the Nordic countries, both when it comes to female boardroom representation and paternity leave, but now things are moving forward.
Not all customers are white men
It is women who decide over most home purchases and their buying power is growing. Yet most products are created with men in mind. This is one of the reasons why Sweden’s innovation agency Vinnova’s has created a unique new program which focuses on norm-critical innovation.
The Nordics: Failing reforms exclude youths with disabilities.
More flexibility does not lead to a more inclusive labour market. Political reforms carried out in the Nordic region in the first decade of the millennium do not have any measurable effects either, concludes the Nordic research group behind the report ‘New Policies to Promote Youth Inclusion’.
Finland’s changing labour market
Finland is struggling to emerge from the economic crisis, and it is being felt in the labour market. Only one in ten Finns believe the situation will improve this year. Nearly half of them believe things will get worse, according to a working life barometre from the Finnish Ministry of Employment and the Economy.
New work environment agreement focuses on prevention and permanence
Denmark’s work environment will be strengthened over the next four years with 135 million Danish kroner (€18m), mainly aimed at preventing violence, threats, workplace accidents and burnout.
Victory for the Finnish Electrical Workers' Union in EU Court of Justice
”6 – 0 to the Finnish Electrical Workers’ Union!” ”The greatest thing to have happened since the Laval judgement!” Reactions from the employees’ side were exuberant when the Court of Justice of the European Union announced its preliminary ruling in the case concerning 186 Polish electricians who had been posted to Finland.
Anda Uldum: The man with the key to the national coffers and the mines
Greenland’s new Minister of Finance and Raw Materials, Anda Uldum, is facing a giant challenge.
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