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October 2003

• 31 Oct 2003
  Latvia: Legislation strengthens institutional basis for health and safety

  Over 2001-3, Latvia has adopted a series of items of legislation aimed at improving health and safety at work, by introducing new structures and responsibilities. The context is forthcoming EU membership and shortcomings in companies, owing to a lack of financial resources and qualified personnel.

• 31 Oct 2003
  Latvia: Government adopts National Employment Plan for 2003

  In July 2003, the Latvian government adopted a National Employment Plan (NEP) for 2003, which has been developed on the basis of the EU employment strategy and long-term national development documents. Most of the NEP's measures relate to improving employability and support for businesses. The Latvian Employers' Confederation (LDDK) has criticised the late adoption of the Plan.

• 31 Oct 2003
  Estonia: Three transport trade unions sign joint strike pact

  In September 2003, three major trade unions in the Estonian transport sector signed a joint strike pact, which will make it possible for them to organise wide-ranging industrial action across the whole sector.

• 31 Oct 2003
  Latvia: Government increases minimum wage

  In September 2003, the Latvian government increased the national minimum wage by 14.3%, in line with a seven-year plan to double the minimum wage adopted in May. The government also approved an indexation-linked increase in pensions.

• 30 Oct 2003
  Italy: Debate over inflation and incomes policy

  In October 2003, an upturn in inflation has sparked debate between the Italian social partners on its structural causes and how it can be brought back into line with the forecast rate of inflation. The Ministry of Production Activities has begun consultations with the social partners and consumers’ organisations in order to draw up intervention measures. From the point of view of industrial relations, the main issue is the future of the incomes policy system.

• 30 Oct 2003
  Poland: Continued opposition to coal mining reform

  In autumn 2003, protests by workers and trade unions are continuing against the Polish government's plans for the restructuring of the coal mining industry. The programme includes the closure of four mines in the Silesia region. The government has given assurances that there will be no redundancies as a result of the mine closures, but these declarations have met with distrust. Protests reached a head in September with a violent demonstration in Warsaw.

• 30 Oct 2003
  Poland: Government proposes reform of employment services

  Since Poland instituted an administrative decentralisation to the regions and districts in 1999, employment services have been the responsibility of the latter. As a result, the national government has found it more difficult to pursue a cohesive set of labour market policies, particularly in terms of measures called for under the EU's European employment strategy. Thus, in August 2003, the government proposed new legislation on employment promotion and labour market institutions, aimed at reintroducing a degree of central control. Trade unions would prefer a full-scale return to centralisation.

• 30 Oct 2003
  Poland: 'Activation package' agreed to accompany iron and steel restructuring

  In September 2003, the sectoral social partners and government agreed an activation packageto accompany restructuring in the Polish iron and steel industry in the period up to 2006. The package provides for measures such as training and counselling for redundant workers who are willing to seek work in other sectors. This is the latest stage of restructuring in the iron and steel industry, where 47,000 jobs were lost over 1999 -2001 alone. However, the process has not led to high levels of industrial conflict, which many observers attribute to the industry's well-developed sectoral social dialogue.

• 30 Oct 2003
  Italy: Report highlights problems of training system

  In September 2003, the Isfol research institute presented a report which highlights the problems of the Italian training system. Some 60% of the working population has completed only compulsory education, the school drop-out rate is the highest in Europe and only 25% of companies organise training courses for their employees. In 2001-2 , only a little more than 30% of workers in the private sector took part in any training initiatives.

• 30 Oct 2003
  Italy: Fiom-Cgil continues campaign for reopening of negotiations on metalworking agreement

  In autumn 2003, the Fiom-Cgil trade union is continuing its campaign for the reopening of negotiations on the metalworking sector collective agreement, which was signed in May 2003 by employers and the other two main metalworkers' unions, Fim-Cisl and Uilm-Uil. As well a series of strikes, Fiom-Cgil has initiated company-level bargaining to concludepre-agreements- company agreements intended to anticipate the contents of a future new sectoral accord - and thereby compel the employers’ associations to reopen national negotiations. The employers' associations have reacted sharply to Fiom’s initiative, while some firms have concluded such pre-agreements.

• 30 Oct 2003
  Italy: Landmark ruling on reinstatement of temporary agency worker

  Temporary agency work is spreading rapidly in Italy. However, the use of agency workers by firms is in many cases thought to be in breach of the legislation on the issue, which notably permits such workers to be used only on specific grounds. In late August 2003, the Bologna labour tribunal ordered the TIM mobile telephone company to reinstate a temporary agency worker on an open-ended contract at a call centre in the city. The tribunal found that the company had failed to provide the justification required by law for the use of an agency worker. This is the first such judicial decision and may mark a turning point in the unlawful use of this type of labour.

• 30 Oct 2003
  Norway: Union demands transitional arrangements for free movement of workers from new EU Member States

  In October 2003, the Norwegian United Federation of Trade Unions (Fellesforbundet) - the largest trade union in the Norwegian private sector - called for the introduction of transitional arrangements in relation to the free movement of workers from the new Member States due to join the EU in 2004. The union is worried that employers will take advantage of foreign labour, and thus put pressure on pay and employment conditions in Norway.

• 29 Oct 2003
  Slovakia: Law on employee participation amended

  In April 2002, Slovakia's new Labour Code came into force, making significant changes to the law on employee participation, which had previously granted consultation, information, inspection and collective bargaining rights only to trade union organisations. The new Code allowed for employee representation through an elected works council orworks trusteewith negotiation, information and inspection rights, but only in organisations with no trade union presence. In July 2003, an amendment to the Code extended works council and works trustees to organisations where a trade union is present.

• 29 Oct 2003
  Luxembourg: Thematic feature - works councils and other workplace employee representation and participation structures

  This article examines the Luxembourg situation, as of September 2003, with regard to works councils and similar workplace employee representation and participation structures. It looks at the regulatory framework, statistical data, evidence on practice and the views of the social partners.

• 29 Oct 2003
  France: Thematic feature - works councils and other workplace employee representation and participation structures

  This article examines the French situation, as of September 2003, with regard to works councils and similar workplace employee representation and participation structures. It looks at the regulatory framework, statistical data, evidence on practice and the views of the social partners.

• 29 Oct 2003
  Germany: Works council members prefer sectoral agreements

  In its 2003 Economic Report, published in July 2003, the German Federal Ministry of Economics and Labour underlines that the government is reviewing the law on collective bargaining in order to enable more flexibility in pay and conditions at company level. The idea is to allow for further decentralisation of collective bargaining from sector to company level. However, opponents point out that, while sectoral collective agreements are still the norm in Germany, most already contain opening clausesallowing for specific company-level deviations from their provisions. Furthermore, recently published findings from the third WSI works and staff council survey indicate that the majority of members of works councils do not want a further decentralisation of bargaining.

• 29 Oct 2003
  Germany: New study examines employment prospects of older workers

  At a joint conference held in September 2003 to present the findings of a project entitledProage - Facing the challenge of demographic change, the Confederation of German Employers’ Associations and the Bertelsmann Foundation concluded that Germany’s current problems related to the labour market and social security funding, and its weak economic growth performance, can be resolved only if greater use is made of the employment potential and experience of older workers. The two organisations have therefore called on policy-makers, the social partners and companies alike to change their thinking and give more employment opportunities to older workers by changing current policies and incentives.

• 29 Oct 2003
  Spain: Working time falling and becoming more flexible

  Collectively agreed working time has been undergoing significant changes in Spain in recent years. The annual duration of working time has been falling at a moderate rate, while there has been increasing flexibility in the organisation of working time, through methods such as annualisation and the irregular distribution of hours over the year. Drawing on recent data, this article outlines the situation in 2003.

• 29 Oct 2003
  Spain: UGT calls for more government investment in active employment policies and social protection

  In response to Spain's 2004 state budget, presented in September 2003, the UGT trade union confederation has called on the government to promote active employment and social protection policies aimed at improving the stability of employment and the employability and protection of unemployed people. UGT is also demanding greater investment in research and development, infrastructures and technologies, improvements in education and health policy and a new family protection policy that is not based on tax deductions.

• 29 Oct 2003
  EU Level: European Economic and Social Committee adopts opinion on revision of EWCs Directive

  In September 2003, the EU’s European Economic and Social Committee approved an opinion on the experience to date of the European Works Councils Directive and its possible revision. This feature highlights the key points and potential significance of the opinion.

• 29 Oct 2003
  Luxembourg: New law adopted on people with disabilities

  Legislation adopted in Luxembourg in September 2003 seeks to improve the position and income of people with disabilities. All disabled workers will in future receive at least the minimum wage, while a new benefit will guarantee a basic income to people with disabilities who are unable to work.

• 29 Oct 2003
  Netherlands: Pay freeze agreed for 2004-5

  In October 2003, the Dutch government and social partners agreed on a comprehensive set of measures to confront the current economic recession. One of the key measures is a freeze in collectively agreed wages during 2004 and 2005, in exchange for the government dropping a number of cost-cutting plans. Recent figures from the Labour Inspectorate indicate that pay increases have already slowed considerably in 2003.

• 29 Oct 2003
  Austria: Austria's international unit labour cost position improves slightly

  According to a study published in autumn 2003 by WIFO, Austria’s businesses have improved their comparative unit labour cost position since 2001, in particular in comparison with the country's most important trading partners. This is due to notably high productivity growth in industry, which offsets Austria’s relatively high labour costs. The government is also aiming to ease companies’ tax burden from 2005.

• 29 Oct 2003
  Spain: Continuing training reform adopted

  In August 2003, the Spanish government adopted a reform of the continuing vocational training system, which will come into effect at the beginning of 2004. The aim is to streamline the system, reduce bureaucracy, clarify the competences of the central state and regions, and introduce a flexible funding system in which companies take most of the initiative. The reform entails a certain loss of influence for the social partners.

• 28 Oct 2003
  Spain: Subcontracted workers protest after accident at petrochemicals plant

  In August 2003, eight workers died and several more were seriously injured in an accident at the Repsol-YPF petrochemicals refinery in Puertollano, Spain. The company and the trade unions set up an investigation commission to examine the incident but they disagreed on the final conclusions. Furthermore, a large group of workers employed by subcontractors at the plant claimed that they did not feel represented by the trade unions, and called a three-day work stoppage to demand specific improvements to health and safety at work.

• 28 Oct 2003
  Sweden: Industry trade unions seek 3.5% pay rise

  Seven trade unions organising blue-collar, white-collar and professional workers in the Swedish industry sector announced their demands for the 2004 bargaining round in September 2003. They are seeking a general pay rise of 3.5%, efforts to improve the position of low-wage workers, a real pay rise for all workers, and further working time reductions.

• 28 Oct 2003
  Finland: Recent trends and future prospects in gender equality

  Equality between men and women is widely thought to be advanced in Finland. Women are well educated and their labour market participation is high, while strict equality legislation has been in force for many years. However, women still earn less than men, the labour market is strongly segregated on gender lines, and young women face particular difficulties in finding open-ended employment. This article provides an overview of the gender equality situation in 2003.

• 28 Oct 2003
  Denmark: Introduction of 'labour market pensions' strengthens bargaining system

  Since 1991, the Danish social partners have introduced and extended a system of collectively agreed occupational pensions. Theselabour market pensionschemes now cover over 90% of employees and involve a compulsory contribution of 9% of pay. A study published in September 2003 argues that the introduction of the labour market pension scheme has both contributed to dealing with the problem of future pension financing (which is not now seen as a major problem in Denmark, in contrast with many other European countries) and strengthened social partner organisations and the collective bargaining system.

• 28 Oct 2003
  Spain: Law on Foreign Persons reformed again

  In September 2003, Spain's Peoples’ Party (PP) government and the opposition Socialist Party (PSOE) reached agreement on a reform of the Law on Foreign Persons, which will come into force in January 2004. The new measures seek to combat entry and residence by illegal immigrants and to reinforce the fight against clandestine immigration practices. Trade unions have criticised the latest in a series of reforms to the law in this area.

• 28 Oct 2003
  Spain: CEOE analyses bargaining in 2002

  In its review of collective bargaining in 2002 published in autumn 2003, the Spanish Confederation of Employers' Organisations (CEOE) finds that the social partners' central agreement laying down guidelines for bargaining during the year had a significant impact at sector and company level, notably contributing to wage moderation. The study examines developments in collective agreements in areas such as job classification, working time, pay employment and training, and equal opportunities.

• 28 Oct 2003
  EU Countries: Beilegung von Arbeitsstreitigkeiten in vier mittel- und osteuropäischen Ländern

  Die mittel- und osteuropäischen Länder, die im Mai 2004 der EU beitreten werden, haben ihre Arbeitsbeziehungssysteme während ihres politischen und wirtschaftlichen Wandels seit den späten 1980er Jahren neu strukturiert. Die Einführung neuer Mechanismen zur Beilegung von individuellen arbeitsrechtlichen Streitigkeiten und tarifvertraglichen Auseinandersetzungen sowie zur Regelung von Streiks stellen einen bedeutenden Aspekt hinsichtlich dieser Änderungen dar. Die vorliegende Vergleichsstudie untersucht diese Mechanismen und Regeln in vier der betreffenden Länder - Polen, Slowakische Republik, Slowenien und Ungarn - und bietet einen Überblick über die jüngsten Entwicklungstendenzen bei Arbeitskampfmaßnahmen.

• 28 Oct 2003
  EU Countries: Règlement des conflits sociaux dans quatre pays d’Europe centrale et orientale

  Les pays d’Europe centrale et orientale qui doivent rejoindre l’UE en mai 2004, ont entrepris la refonte de leur système de relations industrielles dans le cadre de la transformation politique et économique entamée depuis la fin des années 80. L’instauration de nouveaux mécanismes de résolution des conflits du travail individuels et collectifs et de réglementation des grèves constitue un aspect important de ces changements. La présente étude comparative examine ces mécanismes et dispositions dans quatre des pays concernés, à savoir, la Hongrie, la Pologne, la Slovaquie et la Slovénie - et indique les récentes tendances dans le domaine de l’action syndicale.

• 27 Oct 2003
  EU Level: Commission issues Employment in Europe 2003 report

  In October 2003, the European Commission issued in its latest annual Employment in Europe report. This comprehensive document looks at labour market developments during 2002 and, in some cases, over a longer time-scale. It focuses on a range of areas, including employment growth, productivity growth, skills, labour market mobility, flexibility and security, quality in work, older workers and immigration.

• 27 Oct 2003
  EU Level: New report examines equality, diversity and enlargement

  In October 2003, the European Commission published an independent report on the progress made in putting into place anti-discrimination legislation in the countries due to join the European Union in the coming years, in response to the EU Directives on the issue. The study finds signs of progress with regard to the drafting and adoption of anti-discrimination legislation in many countries, but notes that all of the countries must do more before accession.

• 25 Oct 2003
  Netherlands: Thematic feature - works councils and other workplace employee representation and participation structures

  This article examines the Dutch situation, as of September 2003, with regard to works councils and similar workplace employee representation and participation structures. It looks at the regulatory framework, statistical data, evidence on practice and the views of the social partners.

• 25 Oct 2003
  United Kingdom: Unions launch new campaign against long working hours

  A new campaign against long working hours was launched by the UK's Trades Union Congress (TUC) in September 2003. It focuses on the incidence of the so-calledindividual opt-outfrom the 48-hour weekly limit on average working time. The TUC claims that many employees are not aware of their rights or are coerced into working longer hours than they would like.

• 25 Oct 2003
  United Kingdom: The impact of employment legislation on small firms

  A persistent complaint by UK employers is the burden imposed on them by employment regulations. Small firms are felt to be particularly seriously affected. A study published in September 2003, based on qualitative research in 18 small firms, finds that the effects of employment legislation on small firms can be small. The reasons for this lie in the nature of different employment laws and the ways in which their effects in practice are shaped by firms’ market context and internal processes.

• 23 Oct 2003
  EU Countries: Annualised hours in Europe

  Annualisationor annualised hoursschemes allow employees' working time (and pay) to be calculated and scheduled over a period of a year (or some other period longer than a week, if a broad definition is used). They are a means of achieving working time flexibility which has proved increasingly popular in a number of European countries in recent years, and which has been promoted by EU policy and recommendations. Examining the EU Member States and Norway, this comparative study looks at: the regulatory framework for annualised hours set by both legislation and collective agreements; the coverage and extent of such schemes; the impact of annualised hours in practice; the views and strategies of the social partners; and future prospects.

• 23 Oct 2003
  Italy: Thematic feature - works councils and other workplace employee representation and participation structures

  This article examines the Italian situation, as of September 2003, with regard to works councils and similar workplace employee representation and participation structures. It looks at the regulatory framework, statistical data, evidence on practice and the views of the social partners.

• 22 Oct 2003
  Ireland: Thematic feature - works councils and other workplace employee representation and participation structures

  This article examines the Irish situation, as of September 2003, with regard to works councils and similar workplace employee representation and participation structures. It looks at the regulatory framework, statistical data, evidence on practice and the views of the social partners.

• 22 Oct 2003
  Slovenia: Part-time work in focus

  In 2003, new regulations on part-time work came into force in Slovenia. While these do not differ substantially in their content from the previous rules, they are now set out in a more clear and precise way. Part-time work remains relatively uncommon in Slovenia, affecting only around 6% of those in employment, compared with around 18% in the current EU. Women's part-time work is somewhat higher at around 8%, but this is even further below the EU figure of around one third. A key reason for the low level of part-time work among both women and men is that a full-time income is generally needed to achieve a decent standard of living.

• 22 Oct 2003
  Germany: Thematic feature - works councils and other workplace employee representation and participation structures

  This article examines the German situation, as of September 2003, with regard to works councils and similar workplace employee representation and participation structures. It looks at the regulatory framework, statistical data, evidence on practice and the views of the social partners.

• 22 Oct 2003
  United Kingdom: Thematic feature - works councils and other workplace employee representation and participation structures

  This article examines the UK situation, as of September 2003, with regard to works councils and similar workplace employee representation and participation structures. It looks at the regulatory framework, statistical data, evidence on practice and the views of the social partners.

• 22 Oct 2003
  Estonia: The development and current situation of trade unions

  Estonia has two trade union confederations, EAKL and TALO, which between them represent about 14% of the labour force. This article outlines the development of unions since the beginning of the 1990s and examines the situation in 2003, looking at their organisation, structure, activity, membership and density, as well as the legislative framework.

• 22 Oct 2003
  Finland: Thematic feature - works councils and other workplace employee representation and participation structures

  This article examines the Finnish situation, as of September 2003, with regard to works councils and similar workplace employee representation and participation structures. It looks at the regulatory framework, statistical data, evidence on practice and the views of the social partners.

• 22 Oct 2003
  Austria: Thematic feature - works councils and other workplace employee representation and participation structures

  This article examines the Austrian situation, as of September 2003, with regard to works councils and similar workplace employee representation and participation structures. It looks at the regulatory framework, statistical data, evidence on practice and the views of the social partners.

• 22 Oct 2003
  Norway: Thematic feature - works councils and other workplace employee representation and participation structures

  This article examines the Norwegian situation, as of September 2003, with regard to works councils and similar workplace employee representation and participation structures. It looks at the regulatory framework, statistical data, evidence on practice and the views of the social partners.

• 22 Oct 2003
  Spain: Thematic feature - works councils and other workplace employee representation and participation structures

  This article examines the Spanish situation, as of September 2003, with regard to works councils and similar workplace employee representation and participation structures. It looks at the regulatory framework, statistical data, evidence on practice and the views of the social partners.

• 22 Oct 2003
  Sweden: European Court of Human Rights to rule on impartiality of Swedish Labour Court

  In July 2003, the European Court of Human Rights decided that it will hear a case that will examine whether the Swedish Labour Court - which includes representatives of employers' organisations and trade unions - can be considered as impartial, as required by the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms.

• 22 Oct 2003
  Greece: Thematic feature - works councils and other workplace employee representation and participation structures

  This article examines the Greek situation, as of September 2003, with regard to works councils and similar workplace employee representation and participation structures. It looks at the regulatory framework, statistical data, evidence on practice and the views of the social partners.

• 22 Oct 2003
  Slovakia: Labour Protection Information Centre completes first year of operations

  The Slovak Labour Protection Information Centre (ICOP) commenced operations in 2002, providing information on health and safety under the aegis of the National Labour Inspectorate. The performance of ICOP was positively assessed at a meeting in April 2003, at which it was recommended that the Centre be developed further.

• 22 Oct 2003
  Poland: NSZZ Solidarność convention agrees on protests

  At its convention held in September 2003, Poland's Independent and Self-Governing Trade Union Solidarity (NSZZ Solidarność) agreed to consult its member unions over national protest action against government policies. A general strike is not ruled out, but is considered unlikely by observers.

• 22 Oct 2003
  Poland: Daewoo-FSO rescued - for now

  Since its main shareholder, Daewoo of South Korea, went bankrupt in 2001, the fate of the Polish car producer, FSO-Daewoo, has hung in the balance. A deal on reducing FSO-Daewoo's debt reached with the Korean investors and Polish banks and authorities in September 2003 has now rescued the company, at least in the short term, However, the restructuring plan involves around 1,500 job losses out of a workforce of 3,000.

• 22 Oct 2003
  Spain: More Saturday working agreed at SEAT

  In September 2003, a working time flexibility agreement was reached by management and workers' representatives at SEAT, the Spanish motor manufacturer. The agreement provides for 10 additional Saturdays to be worked, in order to deal with increased demand.

• 22 Oct 2003
  Spain: Redundancies planned at Antena 3

  In September 2003, the Spanish television company Antena 3 announced a redundancy procedure that could affect around a quarter of its workforce, prompting strike action by employees.

• 22 Oct 2003
  Italy: Government approves 2004 budget law

  In September 2003, the Italian government approved the 2004 state budget law, which provides for EUR 16 billion worth of spending cuts and new revenue-generating measures. While employers' organisations have responded cautiously to the law, trade unions are harshly critical of the budget and a linked pensions reform, and have called a four-hour general strike in protest.

• 22 Oct 2003
  Hungary: Public sector unions protest against government cutback plans

  Following repeated demands by various employers’ organisations, in September 2003 the Hungarian Prime Minister ordered staff cuts of 10% in central government offices. Meanwhile, it has been rumoured that the government plans to reduce the number of public service employees by 6%. The trade unions have protested fiercely and demanded the resumption of negotiations. So far, no official government decree has been issued on staff cuts and, while unions are united in their opposition, no countrywide strikes are expected.

• 22 Oct 2003
  France: Alstom rescue plan agreed

  In September 2003, following difficult negotiations, the European Commission approved a rescue plan for Alstom, the troubled engineering group, put together by the French authorities and banks. The plan adopted has not fully assuaged anxieties expressed by trade unions represented at the group.

• 22 Oct 2003
  France: Unemployment allowance entitlement to be cut

  In September 2003, the French government announced a cut in the entitlement period for thespecific solidarity allowance(ASS) paid to unemployed people who are no longer eligible for unemployment benefit. The move has been opposed by trade unions and the political opposition.

• 22 Oct 2003
  France: Civil service trade unions meet Minister

  The French Minister for the Civil Service met with civil servants' trade unions in September 2003. He proposed the creation of a civil service pay observatory, the holding of aconference on pay, and the introduction of performance-related pay. The unions reacted negatively to the last of these proposals.

• 22 Oct 2003
  Portugal: Unions present pay proposals for 2004

  In September 2003, Portugal's two main trade union confederations, CGTP and UGT, presented their demands for 2004, following a year of falling real pay, rising unemployment and tightening public expenditure. The unions are focusing on pay rises in 2004 that will improve workers’ purchasing power, especially at the lowest levels, and call for similar increases in pensions. They also make a number of proposals to improve Portugal's current low levels of productivity and competitiveness.

• 22 Oct 2003
  Denmark: Transitional arrangements proposed for workers from central and eastern Europe

  In September 2003, the Danish Minister of Employment proposed that, for a transitional period, workers from the new central and eastern European Member States joining the EU from May 2004 should be able to take jobs in Denmark only on the terms and conditions laid down in collective agreements.

• 21 Oct 2003
  Bulgaria: Pension reform continues

  Since 2000, Bulgaria has being undergoing a process of major pension reform. The latest stage came in July 2003 with the adoption of a new, unified Social Insurance Code, which brings together the legislation governing the various pillars of the pensions system. The new Code was based on lengthy discussions, which included the social partners, but there remain disagreements over the future course of pension reform.

• 21 Oct 2003
  Greece: Strike action in ports over proposed Directive

  Dockers held a one-day nationwide strike in Greek ports in September 2003 as part of a Europe-wide trade union campaign against a proposed EU Directive on the liberalisation of port services.

• 21 Oct 2003
  Italy: New rules on general strikes in essential public services

  In September 2003, Italy’s Guarantee Authority on strikes in essential public services set out rules to be observed by public sector workers in the event of a general strike called by trade union confederations. The rules cover matters such as the provision of minimum services and were drawn up with trade union input.

• 21 Oct 2003
  Italy: 'Reformist' Cgil officials meet

  In September 2003, more than 600 officials of Cgil, one of Italy's three main trade union confederations, met and approved a document addressed to Cgil’s executive, calling for a debate on the organisation's direction and decisions. Thereformistgroup is concerned about matters such as a perceivedpoliticisationof Cgil's activities and its strained relations with the other two union confederations, Cisl and Uil.

• 21 Oct 2003
  Greece: Court examines consequences of participating in illegal strike

  In September 2003, the Greek Supreme Court examined a case which raises the question of whether it is lawful for an employer to reduce a worker’s paid annual leave by the number of days spent on strike, when a court decision to declare the strike illegal is issued after the strike has started. The GSEE trade union confederation has intervened in the case.

• 08 Oct 2003
  Germany: Manufacturing labour costs still high by international standards

  According to a study published in August 2003 by the Cologne Institute for Business Research (IW), in 2002 western Germany lost its long-standing top place in the international league table of manufacturing labour costs to Norway. However, total hourly labour costs in the German manufacturing sector were still 28% above the average for the 20 industrialised countries examined in the research.

• 08 Oct 2003
  Belgium: National conference for employment launched

  In September 2003, the Belgian federal government opened a nationalconference for employmentbringing together federal, regional and community ministers and the social partners. The aim of the conference is to draw up measures leading to the creation of 200,000 new jobs by 2007. The initial measures will appear in the draft federal budget for 2004.

• 08 Oct 2003
  EU Level: Social partners issue position on EU coordination of social protection

  In September 2003, the EU-level social partners issued a joint position on European Commission proposals for better and more visible coordination of social protection at European Union level.

• 08 Oct 2003
  EU Level: ECJ rules that on-call working is working time

  In September 2003, the European Court of Justice (ECJ) ruled that time spent by a doctor working in a hospital on an on-call basis constitutes working time in its entirety, even if the employer provides a place of rest for the employee to use when not actively engaged in their duties.

• 08 Oct 2003
  Austria: Right to parental part-time work proposed

  In August 2003, the Austrian government proposed a right to part-time work for the parents of children of pre-school age. However, opposition political parties and trade unions argue that the scheme could be atrap, in particular for women, in terms of their chances of re-entering full-time employment and their future pension entitlememts. Therefore, they are demanding specific supporting measures to complement the proposed provisions.

• 08 Oct 2003
  Finland: Employers’ organisations plan to merge in 2005

  In September 2003, Finland's two main employers' confederations - the Confederation of Finnish Industry and Employers (TT) and the Employers´ Federation of Service Industries (PT) - announced that are studying the possibility of merging by 2005.

• 08 Oct 2003
  Norway: Service and transport sector unions examine merger

  In September 2003, six Norwegian trade unions issued a joint statement outlining their intention to examine a possible merger to create a single union for workers in the transport and service sectors. The proposed new union would have 130,000 members and be one of Norway's largest, but the merger process is likely to face many obstacles.

• 08 Oct 2003
  United Kingdom: CBI survey highlights employer concern over regulation

  The Confederation of British Industry’s annual employment trends survey, published in September 2003, argues that the prospect of further employment regulation, especially from the EU, threatens to undermine the UK’s flexible labour market.

• 08 Oct 2003
  United Kingdom: Postal workers reject national strike

  In September 2003, employees of the UK's Royal Mail belonging to the Communication Workers’ Union voted against a national postal strike over pay, but London postal workers supported industrial action in pursuit of improved London weighting allowances.

• 08 Oct 2003
  EU Level: Orkla Media extends EWC to Polish operations

  In September 2003, the media division of the Norwegian-based multinational, Orkla, extended its European Works Council to employees working in its Polish operations.

• 08 Oct 2003
  Germany: German and Polish unions cooperate over seasonal workers in agriculture

  In August 2003, German and Polish trade unions organising in the agriculture sector - IG BAU and ZZPR - continued their long-running cooperation by jointly publishing a bilingual information booklet aimed at Polish seasonal workers in German agriculture. The publication aims to provide seasonal workers with a wide range of information on legal and trade union matters.

• 08 Oct 2003
  Netherlands: Private ambulance staff take industrial action

  In July 2003, private ambulance staff in the Netherlands started industrial action aimed at having their retirement age cut from 59 to 55, in line with public ambulance service employees. Employers unsuccessfully challenged the action in the courts and in September made a final offer aimed at resolving the dispute.

• 08 Oct 2003
  Ireland: Union agrees Bank of Ireland outsourcing deal

  In September 2003, employees at the Bank of Ireland’s technology operation backed a deal reached by the Irish Bank Officials Association (IBOA) on the terms of their transfer to Hewlett Packard, with which the bank has reached an outsourcing agreement.

• 02 Oct 2003
  Portugal: Fewer agreements reached in first half of 2003

  Official statistics indicate that fewer collective agreements were reached in Portugal in the first half of 2003 than in the first half of 2003, continuing a downward trend witnessed over recent years. One factor contributing to the current low level of bargaining activity is that a Labour Code containing new, more flexible rules on collective bargaining is due to come into force in December 2003, and the social partners in many cases appear to be waiting for this new framework to be put in place before seeking new agreements.

• 01 Oct 2003
  Poland: Difficult restructuring of coal mining continues

  In 2003, trade unions representing Polish coal miners have been protesting against mine closures and a World Bank loan to the government to finance the latest stage in the restructuring of the industry, which has been progressing since 1989. Cutting coal production and employment in the sector has been one of the most difficult and costly aspects of Poland's economic transformation and, while there have been major reductions in the workforce and production levels, many problems remain.

• 01 Oct 2003
  Poland: Social agreement negotiations put on hold

  Since May 2003, Poland's national Tripartite Commission has been engaged in negotiations over a wide-ranging social agreement. In September, employers' organisations and some trade unions reached a partial agreement on minimum wages, public sector pay increases and cuts in business taxes, which was accepted by the government. However, the NSZZ Solidarność trade union rejected the deal and withdrew from further negotiations over a full social agreement. The future of the overall social agreement initiative is now in some doubt.

• 01 Oct 2003
  Italy: Government seeks further structural reform of pension system

  Reform of the pension system is again one of the Italian government's top priorities in September 2003, in the context of discussions on the 2004 state budget law. In order to curb spending on pensions, the government intends to modify key aspects of the system. It proposes to: raise the retirement age; introduce incentives to encourage people of pensionable age to remain in work; pay employees' end-of-service allowances into a supplementary pension scheme; and curtail the advantages of workers covered by special pension schemes. Some aspects of the reform will be subject to dialogue with the social partners, which are largely opposed to the changes proposed.

• 01 Oct 2003
  Denmark: Women's wages still lower than men's

  In August 2003, the Danish Confederation of Trade Unions (LO) and the Danish Employers' Confederation (DA) published a joint analysis of the wages of women and men. It is the most comprehensive study to date of the causes of gender differences in wages in Denmark, quantifying a number of factors which have a decisive impact in this area. The study finds that the average gender wage gap (to women's disadvantage) is 14%-15% among blue-collar workers and 19%-20% among white-collar workers. DA and LO are in agreement about the study's findings, but disagree as to what should be done in future to remedy the situation.