Newsletter from the Nordic Labour Journal 2/2016
Editorial: Gender equality important to parents and generals alike
Last year Denmark got its first female leader for the confederation of trade unions, and Norway got its first female chief justice of the supreme court. There are still a few positions of power not yet held by a woman among the 24 which the Nordic Labour Journal measures. But the only position never held by a woman in any Nordic country is commander-in-chief.
Kristin Lund: No shortcuts to gender equality in the armed forces
Major General Kristin Lund from Norway is the UN’s first female commander of a peacekeeping force. She believes there will be a female commander-in-chief in one of the Nordic countries within four years.
Commander-in-chief only position of power not yet held by woman
There is only one position of power in the Nordic Labour Journal’s gender equality barometer which no woman has ever held in a Nordic country – the commander-in-chief for a country’s armed forces. And while women have been absent in war, they have been equally ignored in peace negotiations and peace keeping missions.
Defining Sweden's feminist foreign policy
Sweden’s feminist government wants to use its foreign policy to promote women’s and girl's rights, representation and resources based on the reality in which they live. What exactly a feminist foreign policy means is hard to define, but the perspective should permeate everything the foreign ministry and the diplomatic missions to.
A slight dip in gender equality in Nordic positions of power
Since last year’s barometer there has been a change of government in Finland and in Denmark. Both resulted in governments with fewer female ministers. As a result Nordic gender equality falls by two points to 65 points. Behind the seemingly slight loss, women particularly in Denmark are facing a real setback in the fight for power.
Finnish government seeks help to find work for more people
The Finnish government has asked citizens and organisation for their help to reduce unemployment figures. In particular, Prime Minister Juha Sipilä and his government ministers want ideas for how to help people who have a weak position in the labour market.
Three Swedish initiatives for increased gender equality
It calls itself ‘the world’s first feminist government’, and with three new initiatives the Swedish government shows it is living up to the name: A more equal occupational injury insurance system, a review of parental benefits to ensure it creates a more equal situation for both parents and finally there will be a strengthening of the discrimination act.
I am incredibly thankful for part time work!
35 year old Cecilie Enevold has gone part time in order to spend more time with her two small children. That was a difficult but correct decision, she says.
Danish parents want Swedish part time conditions
The Danish gender equality debate is on fire. A large majority of Danes think parents of small children should have a right to work part time, but the trade unions, the government and feminists disagree.
New Swedish work environment strategy: No more fatal work accidents
The Swedish government wants a vision zero for fatal work accidents, a sustainable labour market and measures to improve the psychosocial work environment. The government recently presented its work environment strategy for 2016 to 2020.
Iceland's Confederation of Labour turns 100 in a more equal labour market
ASÍ - the Icelandic Confederation of Labour - is 100 years old this year. The anniversary is being celebrated with music and conferences in four different locations in Iceland in March. During this anniversary year one authority, one organisation or one company will probably be certified for Iceland's new equal wage standard.
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