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January 2004

• 30 Jan 2004
  Slovakia: Pension system changes take effect

  On 1 January 2004, a new law came into effect which will transform the Slovak state pension system, following several years of discussions. The changes affect areas such as contributions , pension calculation and the retirement age, which has been increased.

• 30 Jan 2004
  Slovakia: Employers given more responsibility for sick pay

  A number of amendments to the Slovak sickness insurance system came into effect on 1 January 2004. The main change is that employers will take over responsibility for sick pay during the first 10 days of an employee's sickness absence

• 30 Jan 2004
  Slovakia: Labour inspectors examine gender equality

  The Slovak National Labour Inspectorate has been monitoring implementation of the national Concept on equal opportunities for women and men, adopted in 2001. Their inspections have focused on the implementation of equal pay and their initial findings, published in 2003, indicate that no substantial progress has been made in closing the gender wage gap.

• 30 Jan 2004
  Hungary: Warning strike at Budapest Ferihegy Airport

  On 14 December 2003, a two-hour warning strike was held at Budapest Ferihegy Airport, Hungary, organised by trade unions at Budapest Airport Corporation in protest against proposed job losses and restructuring. However, a successful meeting between unions and management led to a proposed one-day strike being called off and agreement to continue negotiations with the help of a mediator.

• 30 Jan 2004
  Germany: Laws on protection against dismissal and unemployment benefit amended

  In December 2003, the German parliament passed a major package of labour market reform laws. Statutory protection against dismissal will now apply only to companies with more than 10 employees, rather than the previous five. The period of receipt of unemployment benefit will be reduced for older unemployed people. The tax-funded unemployment assistance scheme will be merged with the social assistance scheme to create a new unemployment benefit II, set at the same level as the current social assistance. Recipients of the new benefit will be obliged to accept every legal job offered to them, regardless of the level of pay. Trade unions oppose many of the reforms, while employers believe that some do not go far enough.

• 30 Jan 2004
  Sweden: Engineering employers and unions make proposals for new agreement

  In January 2004, Swedish engineering employers' associations made their proposals for a new collective agreement for the sector's 300,000 employees. They offered a three-year deal, with an annual pay increase of about 1% and no further working time reductions. Trade unions countered with a demand for a one-year pay agreement, with a wage rise of 2.7%, plus continued cuts in working hours. Engineering traditionally sets the pace in Swedish bargaining rounds.

• 30 Jan 2004
  Denmark: Football lock-out prevented

  In January 2004, the Danish Professional Football Arbitration Court ruled that the Danish League Association had not given sufficient notice that it was suspending its collective agreement with the Danish Football Players' Union. This ruling prevented a lock-out of players which had been due to start on 22 January, in a dispute over new transfer rules. After the verdict, and following a proposal for a compromise from FIFA, it appears likely that the parties will conclude a new collective agreement for professional football in the coming months.

• 30 Jan 2004
  Germany: Coverage of collective agreements and works councils assessed

  Germany's Institute for Labour Market and Employment Research published new figures in September 2003 on the coverage of collective agreements and works councils. According to the research, collective agreements and works councils continue to be the key pillars of the dual systemof interest representation that characterises German industrial relations.

• 30 Jan 2004
  Slovakia: New collective agreement signed for public service employees

  In October 2003, a new collective agreement was signed for Slovakian public service employees, covering 2004. The agreement regulates matters such as pay increases, working time, paid leave, redundancy payments, and supplementary pension contributions. The organisation representing town and municipal employers did not sign the agreement.

• 28 Jan 2004
  Denmark: Thematic feature - redundancies and redundancy costs

  This article examines the procedures and costs involved in collective redundancies in Denmark, as well as current trends and debate in this area, as at November 2003.

• 28 Jan 2004
  Austria: Thematic feature - redundancies and redundancy costs

  This article examines the procedures and costs involved in collective redundancies in Austria, as well as current trends and debate in this area, as at November 2003.

• 28 Jan 2004
  Poland: Reform proposed of employment measures for people with disabilities

  The proportion of people with disabilities who are in employment in Poland is one of the lowest in the OECD. Experts attribute this to factors such as an inefficient structuring of the disability benefits system, the relatively low level of education among disabled people, and various special rules on their working time. A programme for restructuring public expenditure unveiled by the government in October 2003 sets out proposals for changes intended to improve the labour market activation of disabled people.

• 28 Jan 2004
  Italy: Thematic feature - redundancies and redundancy costs

  This article examines the procedures and costs involved in collective redundancies in Italy, as well as current trends and debate in this area, as at November 2003.

• 28 Jan 2004
  United Kingdom: UK reaction to EU working time report

  Responding to the European Commission’s January 2004 evaluation of the EU working time Directive, trade unions and employers put forward opposing views on the scope under current UK legislation for individual employees to opt out of the 48-hour weekly limit on average working time, with the TUC calling for its removal and the CBI for its retention.

• 27 Jan 2004
  Finland: Study examines wage cuts during the 1990s

  According to a study published in November 2003, wage cuts became increasingly common in Finland during the turbulent 1990s. Nominal wage cuts were fairly uncommon for non-manual workers in manufacturing and for service sector workers, but somewhat more frequent for manual workers in manufacturing. However, nominal wage moderation together with inflation produced real wage cuts for a large proportion of employees during the worst recession years of the early 1990s. Centralised wage bargaining played an important role in this development.

• 27 Jan 2004
  Slovenia: Social partners support entry to ERM 2 at end of 2004

  In November 2003, the Slovenian government adopted a programme aimed at the country's entry into the EU's Exchange Rate Mechanism 2 (ERM 2) at the end of 2004, and the subsequent introduction of the euro single currency, possibly in 2007. All the social partners support this move. However, ERM 2 and euro-zone entry will mean changes to current pay and social security benefit indexation systems, and there is considerable debate about how to protect poor people low-wage workers, with a forthcoming tax reform proving controversial.

• 27 Jan 2004
  Italy: Cisl holds organisational assembly

  In November 2003, Italy's Cisl trade union confederation held its organisational and programmatic assemblyin Rome. The key issues debated included future unity of action with the other two main union confederations (Cgil and Uil) and responses to the government's controversial proposals on pensions reform.

• 27 Jan 2004
  Spain: Controversial rulings issued in industrial accident cases

  In November 2003, Spanish courts issued three rulings that proved controversial because they were seen as finding workers responsible for the industrial accidents they had suffered. Trade unions criticised the judgments on the grounds that they failed to take into account the working conditions and the unstable nature of temporary employment contracts, and interpreted the Occupational Risk Prevention Law incorrectly.

• 27 Jan 2004
  Greece: Debate continues on shop opening hours

  The regulation of shop opening hours has long been one of the most complex and contentious issues on the industrial relations agenda in the Greek commerce sector. The matter was brought to the fore again in late 2003 with the adoption of new legislation on local prefects's ability to set rules on opening hours, and by the introduction of special provisions to accompany the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens.

• 27 Jan 2004
  Greece: Government issues draft employment policy law

  In December 2003, the Greek Ministry of Labour and Social Security presented a draft law on measures to address unemployment and other provisions. The proposed legislation provides incentives for the recruitment of unemployed people and to boost employment among women, young people and older workers, as well as regulating a number of paid leave matters.

• 27 Jan 2004
  Poland: Programme for restructuring public expenditure proves controversial

  In October 2003, the Polish government approved a programme for restructuring public spending. The programme contains a number of decisions on cutting expenditure and a set of proposals for consultation on a reform of social spending, covering areas such as pensions, sickness benefits, disability benefits and indexation. Trade unions have expressed strong opposition to the proposals.

• 26 Jan 2004
  Bulgaria: Unions seek abolition of strike bans

  In early 2004, Bulgarian trade unions are continuing their long-running campaign to abolish legislative provisions which prohibit workers in power supply, healthcare, communications and postal services from taking strike action.

• 26 Jan 2004
  Germany: Retail bargaining round completed

  In December 2003, the 2003 collective bargaining round in German retail ended when the bargaining parties in the Berlin area concluded a new collective agreement. The main issue in negotiations was a supplement for late working hours on Saturdays, following the introduction of new legislation earlier in 2003 which extended shop opening times until 20.00 on Saturdays. The various regional agreements provide for pay increases of 1.7%-1.9% in 2003, plus similar increases in 2004, and new supplements for working late on Saturdays.

• 26 Jan 2004
  Bulgaria: Economic and Social Council established

  December 2003 saw the first plenary session of Bulgaria's new Economic and Social Council, an advisory body made up of representatives of employers' organisations, trade unions and non-governmental organisations.

• 26 Jan 2004
  Estonia: Study examines impact of minimum wage on labour market

  In November 2003, the Bank of Estonia published a study on the impact of the statutory minimum wage on the national labour market. The study finds that minimum wage increases lead to a fall in employment among the workers who are directly affected by the rise, and increase the share of workers whose wages are below the statutory minimum.

• 26 Jan 2004
  Romania: European employers’ organisations forum held in Romania

  In November 2003, the General Union of Romanian Industrialists 1903 (UGIR 1903) organised a forum of European employers’ organisations in Bucharest. The event also marked the 100th anniversary of the establishment of the first employers’ association in Romania.

• 26 Jan 2004
  France: Important workplace elections for future of EDF and GDF

  With possible privatisation of France's state-owned electricity and gas companies, EDF and GDF, making the headlines, workplace elections of employee representatives that took place in both firms in late November 2003 seem to have confirmed the employees’ opposition to the plan, with major support for anti-privatisation trade unions

• 26 Jan 2004
  France: No 2003 pay rise for civil servants

  In November 2003, France's civil service minister presented the outlines of the government policy on the civil service to trade unions. There will be no pay increase in respect of 2003 and only a 0.5% rise in 2004. The minister also reiterated the government’s wish to take individual merit into account as a factor in civil servants’ career development and pay.

• 26 Jan 2004
  France: Minimum income scheme reform adopted

  On 1 January 2004, legislation came into force in France introducing a new minimum employment income(RMA) scheme and decentralising the existing minimum integration income(RMI) benefit and assistance programme for people facing labour market difficulties.

• 26 Jan 2004
  Italy: New pay deal agreed for chemicals sector

  In December 2003, sectoral employers' organisations and trade unions signed a renewal of the pay part of the national collective agreement for the Italian chemicals industry, without resort to any industrial action and before the old provisions were due to expire. The deal provides for an average monthly pay increase of EUR 100 and introduces a night-work allowance for shift workers.

• 26 Jan 2004
  Austria: Steel producers fully privatised

  In autumn 2003, the Austrian government started to sell off the state’s remaining shares in companies, and notably fully privatised two former state-owned steel production companies, VOEST-Alpine and Böhler-Uddeholm. These privatisations were accompanied by a number of protest actions, mainly organised by the VOEST-Alpine workforce. However, these protests, as well as objections put forward by the parliamentary opposition, did not proved very effective.

• 26 Jan 2004
  EU Level: ETUC presents 'social tests' to Irish Presidency

  Representatives of the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) met the Irish Prime Minister in January 2004 to present a list of trade union priorities in the economic and social field over the coming six months of the Irish EU Presidency. These include implementation of the Lisbon agenda and the European employment strategy, and progression of a range of social policy instruments and dossiers, in areas such as working time, European Works Councils, health and safety and temporary agency work.

• 23 Jan 2004
  Japan: 2002 annual review for Japan

  This record reviews 2002's main developments in industrial relations in Japan

• 23 Jan 2004
  USA: 2002 annual review for the USA

  This record reviews 2002's main developments in industrial relations in the USA.

• 23 Jan 2004
  Belgium: Social partners evaluate legislation on workplace harassment

  In July 2002, new legislation came into force in Belgium, aimed at tackling violence, bullying and sexual harassment at work. At the time, the law was strongly criticised by employers, which believed that it created too much room for abuse. In late 2003, both employers’ organisations and trade unions have completed their initial evaluations of the new legislation, with mixed findings.

• 09 Jan 2004
  Italy: Thematic feature - social partner involvement in the 2003 NAP

  This article examines social partner involvement in the preparation of Italy’s 2003 National Action Plan for employment drawn up in response to the EU Employment Guidelines.

• 09 Jan 2004
  Malta: Employers’ organisations examined

  Malta has four national peakemployers' organisations - the Association of General Retailers and Traders (GRTU), Malta Employers’ Association (MEA), Malta Chamber of Commerce (COC), and Malta Federation of Industry (FOI). This article examines the structure, membership, tasks and responsibilities of these organisations, as of late 2003.

• 08 Jan 2004
  Slovakia: Fundamental changes made to Labour Code

  In July 2003, significant and extensive amendments were made to the Slovak Labour Code, little more than a year after it came into force. The changes, which resulted from employers' complaints about some of the Code's provisions, aim to to achieve a higher level of flexibility in employment relations by reducing the number of regulations and creating better conditions for autonomous collective bargaining. The areas affected include works council and trade union rights, termination of employment, overtime, paid leave, working time and fixed-term contracts.

• 07 Jan 2004
  Netherlands: Law on promotion of minority employment to be scrapped

  The Dutch Employment of Minorities (Promotion) Act, which seeks to promote equal representation of people from ethnic minorities in the workforce, expires on 1 January 2004 and the government does not plan to prolong it. This decision has been supported by employers, but trade unions and the political opposition want to retain some or all of its provisions. The decision to scrap the Act comes at a time when latest figures indicate that the labour market position of people of foreign nationality or extraction may be starting to worsen, following earlier progress. Meanwhile, there has been a debate in late 2003 over the policy to adopt towards labour migration from new Member States joining the EU in 2004.

• 07 Jan 2004
  Poland: Social agreement negotiations end in failure

  In December 2003, Poland's national Tripartite Commission brought to an end a lengthy period of negotiations over a wide-ranging social agreement, originally proposed by the government. The government and social partners finally accepted that such an agreement cannot be concluded at present, not least because of the position of the NSZZ Solidarność trade union. However, work on the project yielded some progress, with the parties reaching consensus on a number of legislative measures and the social partners to continue talks on a number of matters.

• 07 Jan 2004
  Poland: Research compares Polish and EU pay

  Research published in November 2003 compares various aspects of pay in Poland and the current EU Member States. For example, Poland's minimum wage is around half that in the EU Member State with the lowest minimum, though as a proportion of average wages it is at similar levels to those found in a number of EU countries. Average earnings in Poland are around a third lower than in Greece, the lowest-paid Member State. However, Poland is narrowing the pay gap with the EU, largely due to superior economic growth.

• 07 Jan 2004
  Malta: Pensions reform decision postponed

  In late 2003, the Maltese government, under pressure from the social partners, agreed to postpone a decision on pension reform proposals until June 2004. Proposed changes include increases in the retirement age.

• 07 Jan 2004
  Italy: Report examines labour market trends

  In December 2003, the Censis research centre published its annual report on the social situation in Italy. It finds that the labour market is becoming increasingly rigid. Unemployed people are finding it harder to enter the labour market, while those in employment are less likely to leave it or to move between positions or jobs. Temporary employment plays a key role in labour market entry, and many workers remain in this type of employment for long periods. Finally, many people find jobs through family and friends.

• 07 Jan 2004
  Estonia: Industrial relations in the automotive sector

  In Estonia, the automotive sector consists only of a number of parts manufacturers, notably Norma and Tarmetec. There is little information available on industrial relations in the sector.

• 07 Jan 2004
  Malta: Restructuring of Malta Drydocks and Shipbuilding

  In November 2003, the state-owned Malta Drydocks and Malta Shipbuilding were restructured after lengthy negotiations between the government and the General Workers' Union (GWU). A new merged company has been created, known as Malta Shipyards, and there will be no compulsory redundancies among the 2,600-strong workforce.

• 06 Jan 2004
  Slovenia: Board-level employee participation examined

  Since 1993, Slovenia has had legislation in place on worker representation on the supervisory and management boards of companies. Notably, in larger joint stock companies, workers' representatives may make up between a third and half of the members of the supervisory board. However, it appears that, after 10 years of existence, the relevant legislation is far from being fully implemented.

• 06 Jan 2004
  Romania: Gender equality issues examined

  In Romania, gender equality has strong traditions, but these have been affected by the economic downturn of recent years. It is mainly at national level that gender policies relating to employment are established - through legislation, special plans or collective bargaining - and monitored. Company equality plans have not emerged so far. There is still a major gap between policy and practice, with women earning less, concentrated in low-paid sectors and under-represented in management. This article reviews the situation in late 2003.

• 06 Jan 2004
  Greece: Controversy over closure of Halkidiki mines

  In May 2003, TVX Hellas - the Greek subsidiary of a multinational mining corporation - filed for bankruptcy, closing its mines in Halkidiki, Northern Greece, where some 500 workers were employed. This move followed a court ruling that gold could not be mined at the site on environmental grounds. The Halkidiki workers protested against the closure and in December the government announced a series of measures to compensate and assist the redundant workers, and to reopen the mines.

• 06 Jan 2004
  Austria: First nationwide agreement signed for social and health services

  In November 2003, the Association of Employers for Professions in Health and Social Services (BAGS) and three trade unions concluded Austria’s first nationwide collective agreement for the private social and health services sector. This agreement is regarded as a milestone for this sector in terms of employment conditions and pay, covering 35,000 workers in areas such as kindergartens, childcare and refugee welfare.

• 06 Jan 2004
  Portugal: National Action Plan on Social Inclusion issued for 2003-5

  In October 2003, the Portuguese government set out the main objectives of the National Action Plan on Social Inclusion for 2003-5, based on the EU strategy to combat poverty and social exclusion. The Plan includes measures such as increased coverage of crèches and day nurseries and the promotion of active ageing. Trade unions have made criticisms of some aspects of the Plan and of their level of involvement.

• 06 Jan 2004
  Portugal: Public labour administration restructured

  Over 2002-3, the Portuguese government has reformed and restructured a number of services and bodies within the Ministry of Social Security and Labour. The changes relate to areas such as conflict-resolution services, and statistics, studies and planning in the areas of employment and labour. These measures are particularly important in the light of the new Labour Code which came into force in December 2003, with implications for the areas affected by the reform.

• 05 Jan 2004
  Poland: Restructuring of electricity sector stepped up

  In 2003, the Polish government adopted plans for the further liberalisation, privatisation and restructuring of the electrical energy sector. The plans have aroused debate among employers and trade unions in the industry, not least - despite government assurances - over the employment consequences. A tripartite teamis discussing the restructuring of employment in the energy sector.

• 05 Jan 2004
  Bulgaria: Sectoral collective bargaining develops

  Changes to Bulgarian labour law made in March 2001 promoted bipartite cooperation between the social partners at sector level, and especially collective bargaining. This has led to the development of sectoral bargaining, with 63 new collective agreements signed at this level in 2002-3, covering an estimated 40% of the workforce. This article reviews the situation at the end of 2003, looking at the main trends in areas such as the content of agreements, as well as the continuing problems and shortcomings of sectoral bargaining.

• 05 Jan 2004
  Italy: Dispute over local public transport agreement leads to 'wildcat' strike in Milan

  On 1 December 2003, Italian local public transport workers held strike action in protest against the prolonged delay in renewing their national pay agreement, which expired in late 2001. In the city of Milan, the stoppage - initially announced as being of eight hours’ duration, in compliance with the law on strikes in essential public services - turned into a total blockade of transport services which caused major difficulties for residents. Reactions to this wildcataction from the municipal institutions, the government and the social partners differed in tone and content.

• 05 Jan 2004
  Luxembourg: OGB-L and LCGB make gains in 'social elections'

  November 2003 saw social elections in Luxembourg, with employees voting for representatives on workplace employee committees and in national consultative chambers and social security funds. The two main trade union confederations, OGB-L and LCGB, increased their support while a new federation of unions organising private sector white-collar staff (ALEBA/UEP-NGL-SNEP) failed to make a breakthrough, succeeding only in maintaining its dominant position in the banking sector.