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January 2003

• 31 Jan 2003
  Spain: Agreement reached on improving occupational risk prevention

  In January 2003, the Spanish government and social partners reached an agreement on improving occupational risk prevention, with the aim of reducing the country's high industrial accident rate. The measures include the: introduction of abonus/malussystem of increasing or decreasing employers' industrial accident insurance contributions according to their accident rate; an updating of the system of information on industrial accidents; and closer monitoring of compliance with the risk prevention legislation.

• 31 Jan 2003
  Greece: Equal pay in collective bargaining examined

  In January 2003, Greece's Research Centre for Gender Equality published a study onEqual pay between men and women in collective bargaining. The main aim of the report is to examine the content of collective agreements and identify those that either foster or hinder equal pay. It finds that the content of collective agreements in Greece is rather poor in this area, and that collective bargaining does not work as a measure to promote equal pay. However, there are examples of collective agreements that have contributed to reducing the gender pay gap.

• 31 Jan 2003
  Belgium: Financial scandal hits BBTK/SETCa trade union

  Since mid-2002, the Belgian socialist trade union confederation ABVV/FGTB has been hit by a financial scandal at the Brussels-Halle-Vilvoorde section of its largest affiliate, the Union of White-collar, Technical and Executive Employees (BBTK/SETCa). The scandal led to the dismissal of Albert Faust, the section's general secretary - who claimed that he was sacked because of his political views - and a long-running controversy, during which the courts intervened in an unprecedented way to appoint an external administrator to supervise the section.

• 31 Jan 2003
  Italy: Government issues corporate social responsibility proposals

  In December 2002, the Italian government presented proposals on corporate social responsibility (CSR), with the aim of making an active contribution to the current European Union debate on the subject. The government's objective is to produce, during its Presidency of the Union in the second half of 2003, an EUstandardon CSR.

• 31 Jan 2003
  France: Unemployment insurance agreement renewed

  In December 2002, French employers' organisations and three of the five nationally representative trade union confederations - CFDT, CFE-CGC and CFTC - renewed their agreement on the jointly managed UNEDIC unemployment insurance scheme. With UNEDIC in financial crisis, the accord seeks to balance its budget over 2003-5 through cuts in benefit entitlement and increased contributions. The CGT and CGT-FO unions have criticised this agreement and its negative consequences for unemployed people.

• 31 Jan 2003
  Norway: Immigrants face low earnings

  Research published in late 2002 finds thatnon-westernimmigrants (ie those from outside Europe and North America) in Norway earn considerably less thannative-bornemployees. Although the income gap narrows over time, the income of some groups of immigrants, in particular those from Asia, remains 25% lower than that of indigenous employees.

• 29 Jan 2003
  USA: 2001-2 annual review for the USA

  This record reviews some of the main developments in industrial relations in the USA in 2001-2.

• 29 Jan 2003
  United Kingdom: Latest strike trends examined

  Strikes were rarely out of the UK headlines throughout 2002. Disputes have been prominent because of their scale and concentration in important, usually public, services. Yet the overall incidence of strikes remains low, particularly in private manufacturing.

• 29 Jan 2003
  Luxembourg: New law regulates working time in hotels and catering

  A new law, adopted in December 2002, regulates working time in the Luxembourg hotels and catering sector, after a 30- year legal vacuum, during which the industry's social partners failed to regulate the matter themselves. The new legislation has introduces a statutory 40-hour week in three stages, starting in January 2003.

• 29 Jan 2003
  France: Crédit Agricole to take over Crédit Lyonnais

  In December 2002, the French bank Crédit Agricole made a takeover bid for Crédit Lyonnais, which the latter's board has accepted. Crédit Agricole was forced to act quickly and pay more than anticipated because of interest in taking over Crédit Lyonnais by another French bank, BNP Paribas. Trade unions fear that the result will be a major restructuring programme with heavy job losses.

• 29 Jan 2003
  France: 35-hour week agreement suspended in catering sector

  In late 2002, the French government announced that it would abolish additional government financial assistance for working time reductions in the catering sector, thus suspending the sector's collective agreement on the introduction of the 35-hour week for two years. The move was greeted with a storm of protest from the CFDT and CGT trade unions, which had signed the agreement.

• 29 Jan 2003
  EU Level: Commission issues Communication on free movement of workers

  In December 2002, the European Commission issued a Communication on the free movement of workers in the EU. The Communication examines some of the most important issues for migrants and their families that inhibit their freedom of movement, based partly on a substantial body of case law in this area emanating from the European Court of Justice.

• 29 Jan 2003
  United Kingdom: Employers and unions submit views on UK consultation law

  The closing date for responses to the government's discussion paper on employee involvement and the UK implementation of the EU information and consultation Directive was 11 December 2002. This feature reviews the submissions made by the Confederation of British Industry, the Trades Union Congress and other key organisations.

• 29 Jan 2003
  United Kingdom: Pensions high on industrial relations agenda

  The issue of pensions rose up the UK's political and industrial relations agenda during 2002 and is likely to remain there in 2003. Trade unions have increasingly been prepared to threaten or take industrial action over the closure of final salary occupational pension schemes and government policy on pensions is under review. This feature highlights key developments.

• 29 Jan 2003
  Denmark: Meat and slaughterhouse bargaining approaches

  In 2001, the Danish Food and Allied Workers' Union (NNF) negotiated a highly advantageous collective agreement in the meat factory and slaughterhouse industry, at a time when the sectoral employers' association, SA, was in a weak position. This agreement is due for renewal in early 2003, but with one major difference. SA has since joined the powerful Confederation of Danish Industries (DI) and it will be much more difficult for NNF to achieve such a good result. Among the union's demands is a new system enabling employees to choose freely between using part of their overall wage for higher pay increases, shorter working hours or more pension contributions.

• 29 Jan 2003
  EU Level: Commission evaluates Member States' national pension strategies

  The European Commission issued in December 2002 its first comprehensive analysis of national pension systems in the EU Member States. It assesses the adequacy of national pension systems and their ability to face the challenge of an ageing population.

• 29 Jan 2003
  Germany: New agreement signed in public sector

  In January 2003, the bargaining parties in the German public sector concluded a new collective agreement for about 2.8 million employees. A compromise was reached shortly after employers had rejected the recommendations of a joint dispute-resolution commission. The settlement provides for a two-stage wage increase over 27 months and the adjustment of east German pay levels from 90% to 100% of west German levels by 2007 in most cases. However, the deal also includes some trade union concessions in the areas of days off, the wage scale and modes of payment. In anticipation of this accord, public employers in Berlin decided to leave the employers' organisation and seek to negotiate a more advantageous agreement with the ver.di union.

• 29 Jan 2003
  Ireland: Breakthrough on new national agreement

  In mid-January 2003, the Irish social partners and government are close to finalising the terms of a new national agreement to replace the Programme for Prosperity and Fairness, which expired in December 2002. The draft deal provides for a 7% pay increase over 18 months, as well as concessions on trade union recognition and increases in statutory redundancy pay entitlement.

• 29 Jan 2003
  Norway: Companies sign up to agreement on 'inclusive working life'

  In October 2001, the Norwegian government and social partners signed an agreement on aninclusive working life, whose aims include a 20% reduction in the sickness absence rate. The accord includes a scheme whereby companies conclude agreements with the social insurance authorities, committing themselves to monitoring closely employees on sick leave and to making adjustments to the workplace for older or disabled employees. By the end of 2002, such agreements covered around a quarter of Norwegian employees. However, despite these efforts the sickness absence rate continued to rise throughout 2002.

• 22 Jan 2003
  Italy: Eni signs agreement on transnational industrial relations and social responsibility

  In November 2002, Eni, the Italian-based energy company, became the latest multinational to conclude a global agreement on corporate social responsibility and industrial relations. The accord, signed by Italian and international trade union organisations, lays down a number of principles relating to workers' rights and other social responsibility matters for the group's 70,000 workers worldwide, and establishes a world-level union-management information and consultation forum.

• 20 Jan 2003
  Ireland: Relations between Aer Lingus and cabin crew 'non-existent'

  In January 2003, a confidential report has drawn attention to thealmost non-existent bargaining relationshipbetween management at the Irish state-owned airline, Aer Lingus, and the trade union representing the vast majority of its cabin crew, IMPACT.

• 20 Jan 2003
  Ireland: Mandatory drug testing for defence forces

  One in 10 members of the Irish Defence Forces are to be randomly tested for drugs on an annual basis under a new Compulsory Random Drug Testing (CRDT) scheme, introduced in November 2002. The move has been opposed by associations representing defence force members.

• 20 Jan 2003
  Germany: New collective agreements signed in banking

  In December 2002, new collective agreements on pay increases, variable pay and other issues were concluded for Germany's private and public banks. For the first time, however, cooperative bank employers refused to sign joint agreements with the other parts of the industry.

• 20 Jan 2003
  Greece: Recommendation favours union intervention in labour dispute trials

  In November 2002. the prosecutor of Greece's Supreme Court submitted a recommendation in favour of the intervention of trade unions in trials at the Court relating to labour disputes. This proposal has been warmly welcomed by the Greek General Confederation of Labour (GSEE).

• 20 Jan 2003
  Sweden: Sickness absence falls as early retirement increases

  Figures issued in December 2002 by Sweden's National Insurance Board indicate that, after four years of steady increase, the level of sickness absence has fallen for the first time since 1998 . However, at the same time the number of people receiving early retirement pensions has increased.

• 20 Jan 2003
  Luxembourg: Minimum wage increased by 3.5%

  Legislation increased Luxembourg's statutory minimum wage by 3.5% at the beginning of 2003. The rise reflected increases in average real pay in the economy over 2000 and 2001.

• 20 Jan 2003
  Luxembourg: LCGB calls for compulsory parental leave for fathers

  With Luxembourg's parental leave scheme being taken up only very rarely by men, in December 2002 the LCGB trade union confederation called for the introduction of four weeks' compulsory leave for fathers following the birth of a child.

• 20 Jan 2003
  United Kingdom: TUC elects new leader

  In December 2002, Brendan Barber was elected as the next general secretary of the UK's Trades Union Congress. He will take over from John Monks in May 2003 when the latter becomes general secretary of the European Trade Union Confederation.

• 20 Jan 2003
  United Kingdom: Government survey shows strong employee preference for flexible working

  To highlight newfamily-friendlyemployment rights due to come into force in April 2003, the UK government has published survey findings showing that almost half of those questioned valued flexible working hours over other benefits, with nearly one-third choosing flexibility over higher pay.

• 20 Jan 2003
  Netherlands: Employers seek to 'circumvent' new Sunday working law through collective agreements

  Legislation due to come in force in 2003 will give Dutch employees the right to refuse to work on Sundays. However, the VNO-NCW employers' confederation has advised its members to seek provisions in collective agreements which could prohibit employees from refusing Sunday working. Trade unions have attacked VNO-NCW for what they view as an attempt to circumvent the law through collective agreements.

• 20 Jan 2003
  Italy: Agreement signed on reorganisation of IntesaBci bank

  In December 2002, IntesaBci, Italy's largest banking group, signed an agreement with trade unions, providing for the use of the banking sector'ssolidarity fundto encourage 5,700 employees to depart voluntarily, mainly through early retirement. The workforce reductions result from a major three-year restructuring plan drawn up by company.

• 20 Jan 2003
  Austria: Industrial action threatened at Austrian Airlines

  In late December 2002, the management of Austrian Airlines cancelled a works agreement on job demarcation, in order to cut labour costs. The company's flight staff has responded by threatening to take industrial action, including a strike.

• 20 Jan 2003
  EU Level: EU enlargement date set at Copenhagen Council

  The European Council held in Copenhagen on 12-13 December 2002 set a date of 1 May 2004 for a total of 10 new Member States to join the EU. Accession negotiations with Bulgaria and Romania will continue with a view to them joining in 2007.

• 20 Jan 2003
  EU Level: Greek Presidency sets out priorities

  The EU Council will be presided over by the Greek government during first half of 2003. Accordingly, the Greek Presidency has issued its priorities for the coming six months. In the employment and social field, they include a commitment to reaching political agreement on the draft Directive on temporary agency work, and a range of initiatives in employment, mobility and skills and disability.

• 20 Jan 2003
  EU Level: Agriculture social partners sign vocational training agreement

  In December 2002, the European-level social partners in the agriculture sector signed an agreement on vocational training. The new European accord aims to raise the skill levels of workers in this sector, recognise on-the-job training and experience, give workers a right to individual skills assessments and encourage cross-border recognition of qualifications and diplomas.

• 20 Jan 2003
  Spain: Social partners respond to sinking of oil tanker off Galician coast

  The region of Galicia in northern Spain has been badly hit by an oil spill following the sinking of the oil tanker, Prestige, in November 2002. The economic and employment effects of the disaster are enormous, especially for the region's major fishing industry. Trade unions ad employers' organisations have proposed a number of recovery measures, but these have been rejected by the government. Instead, the government has set up a special fund, controversially financed from the surplus of the social security scheme.

• 20 Jan 2003
  Denmark: Industry social partners sign agreement to bring more people into employment

  In January 2003, the social partners in Denmark's industrial sector concluded an agreement on the implementation of a government plan entitledBringing more people into employment, which is due to be enacted during 2003. The aim is to increase employment by introducing subsidised periods of employment to upgrade the skills of people facing labour market difficulties, along withworkplace introductionschemes, while ensuring that these initiatives do not lead to the replacement of existing jobs on ordinary terms

• 20 Jan 2003
  Norway: Committee makes recommendations on implementation of EU equal treatment Directive

  In December 2002, a public committee delivered its recommendations for the implementation in Norway of the 2000 EU Directive establishing a general framework for equal treatment in employment and occupation. The main change involved is the introduction of a ban on discrimination on grounds of age.

• 17 Jan 2003
  Portugal: Sectoral bargaining problems in the vehicle industry

  At the end of 2002, Portugal's complicated and often overlapping system of collective bargaining is highly topical, as the government's proposal for labour law reform (in the form of a new Labour Code) seeks to overhaul some of the existing bargaining mechanisms. The situation is illustrated by the vehicle industry, where negotiations over a new sectoral agreement are at a stalemate, against a background of multiple agreements covering various groups of workers, sometimes with more than one agreement applying to the same group.

• 17 Jan 2003
  Portugal: New legislation regulates entry and residence of immigrants

  In December 2002, a number of amendments were approved to Portugal's law on immigration, governing the entry and residence of non-EEA foreign nationals. The changes provide for a periodical analysis of the Portuguese labour market as a fundamental factor in deciding the entry of foreign nationals and the granting of permission to stay. The new legislation also implements an EU Directive on the smuggling of illegal immigrants, and seeks to improve the integration of immigrants and the conditions for families to be reunited.

• 17 Jan 2003
  Finland: Social partners disagree on amendments to Equality Act

  In November 2002, a Finnish commission examining a reform of the Equality Act submitted its proposals. It recommends a number of measures to strengthen the current provisions on gender equality and combating discrimination. Trade unions are largely in favour of the proposals, while employers are less enthusiastic.

• 17 Jan 2003
  Finland: Committee completes examination of 'general validity' of collective agreements

  Since new legislation was passed in 2001, a special committee has been examining whether Finland's various sectoral collective agreements should be considered generally valid - ie also applicable to employers and employees that are not members of the signatory organisations. In November 2002, the committee completed its work, ruling that the agreement for the road haulage sector - whose status had previously been unclear - was generally valid.

• 17 Jan 2003
  Finland: Seafarers' Union disagrees with report on future of merchant shipping

  December 2002 saw the publication of a report on Finland's merchant shipping strategy, commissioned by the Ministry of Communications and Transport. One of the conclusions is that Finland should adopt policies used elsewhere in the EU, which would mean the use of foreign labour on Finnish vessels. The Seafarers' Union disagreed with this and other conclusions of the report, not least because it was not permitted to participate in the preparatory work. Employers took a somewhat more positive view of the report.

• 17 Jan 2003
  Finland: TT satisfied with stabilising effect of central agreement but concerned about costs

  According to a survey published by the Confederation of Finnish Industry and Employers (TT) in December 2002, the economic future is uncertain and employment will decline. TT has welcomed the stability brought by the new 2003-4 central incomes policy agreement, but believes that more moderate wage increases combined with tax cuts would have better supported employment growth.

• 16 Jan 2003
  Italy: Report examines industrial relations in 2000-1

  In December 2002, the Italian Council for Economic Affairs and Labour (Cnel) presented its annual report on collective bargaining, wages and labour costs in Italy, covering 2000-1. The report, drafted by the Cesos research institute on behalf of Cnel, highlights the necessity of reforming the present collective bargaining structure, and sparked a debate among the government and social partners.

• 16 Jan 2003
  Portugal: Improved working conditions accompany technological development at Opel Portugal

  A technological and work organisation overhaul at the Opel Portugal motor manufacturing plant in Azambuja over 2001-2 has been accompanied by major improvements in health and safety and award-winning active equal opportunities measures. This article reviews the main developments at the plant.

• 16 Jan 2003
  Portugal: CGTP holds strike to oppose draft Labour Code

  On 10 December 2002, CGTP - one of Portugal's two main trade union confederations - organised a one-daygeneralstrike. The main aims were to apply pressure in negotiations over the government's proposal for a Labour Code and to call for fairer social and wage policies. The proposed Labour Code would replace most current labour legislation by bringing existing provisions together in a single text, while amending current provisions in a variety of areas. CGTP and the other main union confederation, UGT, are planning a joint general strike in January 2003 if they regard the outcomes of the Labour Code debate as unfavourable.

• 16 Jan 2003
  Poland: 'First Job' youth unemployment prevention programme assessed

  In June 2002, the Polish government launched First Job, a major programme aimed at combating unemployment among young people. While the Ministry of Labour's forecasts that the ranks of the unemployed would swell by more than half a million post-secondary school leavers in 2002 proved to be exaggerated, the problem of joblessness amongst young people continues to be acute. This article assesses the implementation of the programme over its first six months, which has been relatively successful.

• 16 Jan 2003
  Poland: More flexible Labour Code comes into force

  In late November 2002, a revised and more flexible Labour Code came into force in Poland. The single most important change is the introduction of a new possibility of concluding agreements to suspend temporarily the application of collective agreements and similar provisions at companies and other employing entities faced with financial difficulties. This change, which presupposes the existence of employee representatives to sign suchsuspension agreements, has highlighted a number of shortcomings in Polish labour law, in that there is no statutory form of workforce representation in employing entities at which no trade unions are present.

• 15 Jan 2003
  Hungary: National tripartite agreement signed on 2003 wage increase recommendations and minimum wage

  In late 2002, Hungary's national tripartite body reached an agreement on wage increase recommendations for sectoral and company-level bargaining in 2003, and on the level of the statutory minimum wage. The agreement recommends a 4.5% wage increase in real terms, and provides for the statutory minimum wage to be frozen at the current level. The parties, in principle, also agreed to support the reduction of working time in the long run and to begin negotiations over the issue with a view to reaching an agreement by June 2003.

• 15 Jan 2003
  Slovenia: Collective bargaining legislation examined

  Slovenia's legislation on collective bargaining - which regulates matters such as the parties to collective agreements, negotiating procedures, the content of agreements and dispute resolution - is undergoing a major shake-up in early 2003. We examine the development of the relevant legislation, the current provisions and the reforms which are expected to be adopted in the first half of 2003.

• 09 Jan 2003
  Italy: Social partners oppose government's devolution proposals

  Italy's centre right-right government has proposed a constitution reform, which will devolve further powers to the regions. The proposal, which came a step nearer to adoption when it was approved by the Senate in December 2002, would give regions exclusive legislative powers in areas such as education, healthcare and public safety. Both trade unions and employers' organisations are opposed to the reform.

• 09 Jan 2003
  Portugal: Crisis in the textiles industry

  In late 2002, the Portuguese textiles industry is facing a crisis, with numerous bankruptcies and relocations, and large number of redundancies. Here we examine the findings of a recent study examining the causes of the crisis and highlighting the need for change, and outline the trade unions' views on the industry's problems and prospects.

• 09 Jan 2003
  Finland: Social partners support proposed tax cuts

  In December 2002, two governmental working groups issued their reports on the reform of the Finnish taxation system, which is under pressure because taxes are high by international standards. They recommended that taxation should be cut in order to increase employment. Both employers and trade unions share this view.

• 08 Jan 2003
  Netherlands: Social partners reassess illegal employment

  In 2002, as the Dutch government is adopting a tougher approach to the illegal employment of non-EEA foreign nationals, the Dutch Trade Union Federation (FNV) has openly expressed its support for such illegal workers. At present, the number of illegal immigrants in the Netherlands is estimated at between 70,000 and 150,000, of whom around 70% are employed illegally. Employers’ organisations have also changed their standpoint and are calling for current legislation to be relaxed.

• 08 Jan 2003
  Italy: Decentralised bargaining in the public sector examined

  The findings of a survey of industrial relations and personnel policies at the decentralised level in the Italian public sector, conducted by the Aran public sector bargaining agency, were published in 2002. The survey examines decentralised bargaining during the 1998-2001 collective agreement period, the first after a major reform of public sector industrial relations in 1997 . On the basis of a sample which is probably Italy's largest and most systematically analysed as regards this issue, the results yield interesting insights and highlight positive and negative aspects.

• 08 Jan 2003
  Spain: Agreements tackle workplace accidents by regulating subcontracting

  In late 2002, Spanish trade unions reached agreements with a number of local and regional public authorities, aimed at improving risk prevention and reducing the level of workplace accidents. The agreements' provisions include regulation and control of subcontracting in public construction works, seen in many quarters as a major factor in the high accident rate.

• 08 Jan 2003
  Poland: Operation of the Labour Fund assessed

  Poland's Labour Fund was created in 1990 as an institution to finance benefits for people losing their jobs, as well as vocational activation programmes for those looking for work and/or threatened by job loss. The difficulties entailed by the country's economic reforms have brought about a deepening imbalance in the disbursement of the Labour Fund resources. While the Fund has been able to soften the negative impact of job losses in non-profitable industries, this has occurred at the expense of programmes for the active counteraction of unemployment.

• 08 Jan 2003
  Italy: European Social Forum discusses labour issues

  In November 2002, the first European Social Forum was held in Florence, Italy, to discuss globalisation and related matters from a critical perspective. The meeting was particularly notable because, for the first time, major European trade unions engaged directly in dialogue with the opponents of globalisation. Along with a major presence of national unions from Italy and other European countries, it was regarded as significant that the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) was directly involved in the proceedings.

• 08 Jan 2003
  Italy: Recent trends in company-level industrial relations in Lombardy

  The findings of a survey of company-level industrial relations in the Lombardy region of Italy, published in 2002, examines how management and workers’ representatives are dealing with new challenges thrown up by changes such as increasing competition. A key finding is that workers’ organisations are not losing ground in terms of exerting influence at the workplace, but rather emerging as legitimate counterparts acknowledged by management in dealing with a significant number of important issues, including labour flexibility.

• 07 Jan 2003
  Japan: 2001 annual review for Japan

  This record reviews 2001's main developments in industrial relations in Japan.

• 07 Jan 2003
  EU Countries: Industrial relations in the EU, Japan and USA, 2001

  This overview compares a number of key aspects of industrial relations in the EU, Japan and USA, focusing particularly on developments in 2001.

• 07 Jan 2003
  Germany: Future of national Alliance for Jobs under debate

  In December 2002, the German government launched an attempt to revitalise the tripartite national Alliance for Jobs, Training and Competitiveness, which was set up in 1998. After nearly a year without a top-level meeting of the Alliance, the government is now seeking new ways of improving such consultations. While employers and trade unions mostly welcome this initiative, it is not yet clear who will participate and which subjects are to be covered by a new Alliance.

• 07 Jan 2003
  Italy: Unions reject agreement on Fiat restructuring

  In December 2002, the management of Fiat and the Italian government reached aprogramme agreementon the reorganisation of the company's troubled automobile division. The trade unions have sharply criticised the deal and taken industrial action in protest, since they believe that the impact on employment is excessive and that the guarantees provided for the company's revival are insufficient.

• 07 Jan 2003
  Norway: Towards closing the gender wage gap in Europe?

  In November 2002, the report of a European project entitledTowards a closing of the gender wage gapwas presented at a conference held in Norway. The objective of the project is to examine the gender pay gap in a broad perspective, against the backdrop of wage formation and pay systems, and to identify the most efficient tools with which to close the gap. We highlight the report's main findings.

• 07 Jan 2003
  Finland: Productivity increases rapidly in private services

  There has been considerable debate in Finland on the growth of service sector employment and on the provision of services by the public or private sectors. In this context, the Employers' Confederation of Service Industries commissioned a research study in autumn 2002 on the development of productivity. According to the findings, labour productivity in Finland's private services has increased by 60% during the past 20 years. It is believed that the provision of services still has great growth potential in employment terms.

• 07 Jan 2003
  Belgium: New anti-discrimination measures approved

  In December 2002, two bills aimed at combating racism and discrimination were amended by the Belgian Senate after being approved by the Chamber of Representatives. The first of these complements existing legislation on racism, while the second prohibits and sets out penalties for all forms of discrimination, and broadens the competences of the Centre for Equal Opportunities and the Fight against Racism. The aims of the new legislation include addressing discrimination on the labour market, which several recent studies have found to be widespread. The social partners are unhappy that they have not been involved in drafting the new legislation.

• 07 Jan 2003
  Norway: Unemployment rises

  Following a long period of low unemployment in Norway, the number of people out of work started growing in late 2002, and the unemployment rate is expected to have risen from 3.6% in 2001 to 3.9% in 2002, and is predicted to hit 5% in 2004. The main reasons are low growth in the world economy and a decline in the competitiveness of Norwegian industry. The rising unemployment has contributed to renewed debate on incomes policy and interest rates.