July 2004
- 30 Jul 2004
Greece: First survey of sexual harassment in the workplace<#PDF_LINK>In April 2004, the Research Centre for Gender Equality (KETHI) issued the findings of the first nationwide survey on sexual harassment in the workplace ever conducted in Greece. The survey examines issues such as the profiles of victims and perpetrators, the extent and nature of harassment, and the responses of victims and management.
- 30 Jul 2004
Italy: National agreement signed on telework<#PDF_LINK>June 2004 saw the conclusion of a national interconfederal agreement that implements in Italy the European framework agreement on telework concluded by the EU-level social partners in July 2002. The Italian agreement was signed by 21 employers’ associations and the three largest trade union confederations, Cgil, Cisl and Uil.
- 30 Jul 2004
Netherlands: Report examines current developments in collective agreements<#PDF_LINK>In June 2004, the Dutch Labour Inspectorate published its spring report on collective agreements. The report focuses on a number of issues that are currently highly topical in debate between the government and social partners. It finds that wage increases have fallen away sharply in 2004, while the number of collective agreements containing provisions on flexible remuneration, flexible pensions, reintegration measures for partly disabled employees and employability has increased over recent years.
- 30 Jul 2004
France: Public researchers protest against cutbacks<#PDF_LINK>During the first half of 2004, French public scientific researchers mounted a campaign to protect funding and jobs in their sector. The protests received a high level of media coverage and were though to have contributed partially to the defeat of the governing conservative majority at the regional elections in March. The researchers were finally successful in having the measures they disliked withdrawn and in obtaining a commitment from the government over the drafting of legislation on future policy and planning for the public research sector.
- 30 Jul 2004
Cyprus: Tension mounts in hotels industry<#PDF_LINK>In summer 2004, bargaining over a new collective agreement for the Cypriot hotels industry has reached a deadlock, and the matter has been referred to mediation. The tense industrial relations climate has been exacerbated by allegations that many employers in the sector are systematically breaching the terms of collective agreement and labour law.
- 28 Jul 2004
Bulgaria: Government proposes package to increase incomes<#PDF_LINK>In May 2004, the Bulgarian Ministry of Labour and Social Policy proposed an ambitious project aimed at increasing people's incomes in 2005. This includes major rises in the national minimum wage and in low pensions. The plan is to be discussed with the social partners.
- 28 Jul 2004
Italy: Ground-breaking agreement signed at Telecom Italia call centre<#PDF_LINK>After some months of negotiations between management and trade unions, in May 2004 a collective agreement was signed at Atesia, the call centre for Telecom Italia (Italy's largest telecoms operator). The deal aims to achieve greater job stability, by gradually changing the status of all 4,350 employer-coordinated freelance workersat Atesia so that, in the great majority of cases, they can become employees proper. This change to the employment relationship has been made necessary by a 2003 labour market reform law (the Biagi law), which abolishes employer-coordinated freelance contracts. The unions have welcomed the agreement as the first of its kind, and see it as a blueprint for similar agreements in the future.
- 28 Jul 2004
France: Civil service employment faces change<#PDF_LINK>In 2004, French civil servants are experiencing a pay freeze, while only half of those who retire are being replaced. The industrial relations climate is thus tense, against a background of future uncertainty and change. The civil service's share of public expenditure is being questioned, while a huge wave of retirements among civil servants is due over the next five to 10 years. At the same time, new management methods and performance-related pay systems are being introduced. This article reviews the situation in summer 2004.
- 23 Jul 2004
Germany: Survey reveals lack of agreements on equal opportunities<#PDF_LINK>One of the aims of a 2001 reform of the German Works Constitution Act was to promote equal opportunities for men and women at company level. The reform set the equal treatment of women as an important objective of works councils, as well as making the reconciliation of work and family life a key field of their activity. A 2003 survey by the WSI research institute, published in May 2004, found that only 4.4% of works councils had concluded a works agreement on equal opportunities, and in only 8.3% of workplaces with works councils were there works agreements on the reconciliation of work and family life. The main reason given for the lack of such agreements was that there had so far been no demand for action on these issues from the workforce. Where there had been any activities in these fields, however, it was in most cases the work council that had taken the initiative.
- 23 Jul 2004
Germany: Training levy law avoided by pact<#PDF_LINK>In June 2004, the German government and representatives of employers and business signed a pact on apprenticeships. This deal has put on hold threatened legislation imposing a compulsory training levy on companies. In the new pact, employers have committed themselves to creating new opportunities for apprentices and less qualified young people over the next three years. The training levy law has been shelved for the duration of the pact. In autumn 2005, the government will assess the success of the agreement and decide if additional legal measures will be taken.
- 23 Jul 2004
Germany: Siemens deal launches debate on longer working hours<#PDF_LINK>In June 2004, the German Metalworkers' Union (IG Metall), reached an agreement with the Siemens electronics group to increase weekly working hours from 35 to 40 at two mobile phone plants, with no extra pay for the workers involved. The agreement is an attempt to prevent jobs being exportedfrom Germany. Though both sides have sought to play down the deal's significance in national terms, the agreement has sparked a debate about whether a new concession bargainingculture is emerging in Germany. About 50 German companies appear to have concluded such supplementary agreements to improve competitiveness at the firm level, while a similar number are seeking to do so.
- 23 Jul 2004
Belgium: Anti-discrimination law and collective redundancies<#PDF_LINK>A February 2003 law banning discrimination on numerous grounds has had an impact on the negotiation of redundancy plans in Belgium. When selecting employees to be made redundant. or allocating the various benefits and assistance under redundancy plans, negotiators now have to observe individual employees’ new rights to be treated without discrimination. This has proved to be a difficult process, with numerous media reports of controversy over discrimination connected with collective redundancies. This article looks at the situation in summer 2004.
- 23 Jul 2004
Austria: Controversy over rise in women's unemployment<#PDF_LINK>The figures for June 2004 indicate that women's unemployment is rising in Austria, while men's is decreasing slightly. This is officially attributed mainly to poor economic demand in some service sectors that mainly employ women. Recent studies suggest that rising unemployment among women is strongly related to deteriorating employment conditions, in particular in terms of flexibility. In response to these developments, trade unions and the parliamentary opposition have demanded a range of measures to improve women's employability, while the government considers the current rise in women's unemployment to be cyclical.
- 23 Jul 2004
Finland: Finnish labour-intensive manufacturers expand into new Member States<#PDF_LINK>A survey of Finnish industrial firms' employment and investment in the new EU Member States was published in June 2004. It finds that a growing share of the companies' foreign-based employment, 9.5% in 2002, is in these countries, though they have received only 3.6% of the firms' foreign investments. The social partners all view EU enlargement as desirable, but trade unions are concerned over certain related issues, such as tax competition.
- 22 Jul 2004
Slovakia: Thematic feature - individual labour/employment disputes and the courts<#PDF_LINK>This article examines how individual labour/employment disputes are handled through the courts in Slovakia, as at March 2004.
- 22 Jul 2004
Slovenia: Thematic feature - individual labour/employment disputes and the courts<#PDF_LINK>This article examines how individual labour/employment disputes are handled through the courts in Slovenia, as at March 2004.
- 21 Jul 2004
EU Level: Report examines undeclared work in EU<#PDF_LINK>In July 2004, the European Commission issued a new report on the extent of undeclared work around the EU. It looks at the incidence in each Member State, including the 10 new Member States that joined in May 2004, and examines the reasons behind the growth in undeclared work.
- 21 Jul 2004
EU Level: Multi-stakeholder forum issues CSR recommendations<#PDF_LINK>In June 2004, the EU multi-stakeholder forumon corporate social responsibility (CSR) issued its final report after 20 months of deliberations. The report contains nine concrete recommendations on how to encourage the development and implementation of CSR strategies.
- 21 Jul 2004
EU Level: Controversy over draft Directive on services<#PDF_LINK>During 2004, there has been widespread criticism among trade unions of a draft EU Directive aimed at encouraging the free movement of services, issued by the European Commission in January. For example, some European-level union organisations expressed opposition to the proposal in June, while unions in Belgium staged protest demonstrations. Trade union concerns centre on the so-called country of originprinciple, according to which service providers would be subject only to the law of the country in which they are established (rather than those in which they operate). Unions fear that this would lead to cost undercutting and might also damage collectively-agreed regulation of employment terms in some countries.
- 21 Jul 2004
Ireland: New equality law extends workers’ rights<#PDF_LINK>In July 2004, the Equality Act 2004 - which is intended to enhance equality of treatment in the workplace - was passed by the Irish parliament. The new law was enacted to comply with three EU equality Directives and will introduce some significant new employment rights, including the extension of positive action measures.
- 21 Jul 2004
United Kingdom: Government revises draft information and consultation Regulations<#PDF_LINK>In July 2004, the UK government published a revised draft of Regulations intended to implement the requirements of the 2002 EU information and consultation Directive. The amendments reflect comments from employers, trade unions and others on an initial consultative draft of the Regulations published a year previously.
- 21 Jul 2004
United Kingdom: Spending review has major implications for public sector employment<#PDF_LINK>In July 2004, the UK government announced its expenditure plans for the next three years. These have major implications for the future scale and distribution of public sector employment, and include cutting over 100,000 civil service posts.
- 21 Jul 2004
Malta: Efforts to increase inter-union cooperation<#PDF_LINK>The difficult socio-economic situation has recently prompted Maltese trade unions to cooperate more with one another. In June 2004, the general secretary of the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) was asked to intervene to decrease the inter-union rivalry that has characterised the Maltese trade union movement for several decades.
- 21 Jul 2004
United Kingdom: Overseas recruitment of health workers sparks controversy<#PDF_LINK>The spring 2004 annual conferences of public service trade unions voiced criticism of the UK government's reliance on expanding the international recruitment of National Health Service staff to combat staff shortages. This article reviews the background to and consequences of this policy.
- 21 Jul 2004
EU Level: Employer and trade union responses to EWCs consultation<#PDF_LINK>In May and June 2004, the main EU-level employers' and trade union organisations responded to the European Commission's first-phase consultation on enhancing the effectiveness of European Works Councils (EWCs), including the possible revision of the 1994 Directive. This article outlines the key points made and the likely next steps.
- 16 Jul 2004
Sweden: Thematic feature - individual labour/employment disputes and the courts<#PDF_LINK>This article examines how individual labour/employment disputes are handled through the courts in Sweden, as at March 2004.
- 16 Jul 2004
Poland: Thematic feature - individual labour/employment disputes and the courts<#PDF_LINK>This article examines how individual labour/employment disputes are handled through the courts in Poland, as at March 2004.
- 15 Jul 2004
Romania: Thematic feature - individual labour/employment disputes and the courts<#PDF_LINK>This article examines how individual labour/employment disputes are handled through the courts in Romania, as at March 2004.
- 15 Jul 2004
Latvia: Thematic feature - individual labour/employment disputes and the courts<#PDF_LINK>This article examines how individual labour/employment disputes are handled through the courts in Latvia, as at March 2004.
- 14 Jul 2004
Slovakia: Meeting highlights European cooperation on health and safety<#PDF_LINK>In March 2004, the director of the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work presented its work to the health and safety network of Slovakia's Labour Protection Information Centre (the Agency's national focal point). The meeting, which included social partner representatives, highlighted the increasingly important role of European cooperation for Slovakia's health and safety authorities.
- 09 Jul 2004
Poland: The Polish labour market and EU membership<#PDF_LINK>As Poland joins the EU on 1 May 2004, its labour market situation remains difficult and unemployment is high, as is the case in a number of other new Member States. This may have contributed to fears in the oldEU 15 of a post-enlargement influx of cheap labour and people seeking social security benefits, and to the decision by most governments to apply transitional periods before fully opening their labour markets to citizens of the new Member States. However, studies conducted in Poland and elsewhere suggest that these fears are exaggerated. This article examines the situation and the views of the Polish social partners.
- 09 Jul 2004
Poland: OPZZ and four employers' confederations sign bipartite agreement<#PDF_LINK>In December 2003, shortly after the collapse of tripartite talks over a wide-ranging social agreement, Poland's OPZZ trade union confederation and the four representative employers' confederation concluded a bipartite agreement on proposed changes to the Labour Code. Neither the government nor the other two main trade union organisations (NSZZ Solidarność and FZZ) were party to this deal. The government later endorsed the agreement and in April 2004 proposed amendments to the Labour Code largely (but not wholly) in line with those agreed by OPZZ and the employers.
- 09 Jul 2004
EU Countries: Évolution du temps de travail - 2003<#PDF_LINK>La présente étude sur l’évolution de la durée du temps de travail en 2002 et 2003 montre que la durée conventionnelle moyenne de travail hebdomadaire dans l’Union européenne (ainsi que la Norvège) est restée relativement stable, de l’ordre de 38 heures. Dans l’UE et la Norvège, la durée moyenne normale de travail annuel établie collectivement se situe autour de 1 700 heures. Sur les trois secteurs examinés, la métallurgie affiche la durée de travail hebdomadaire conventionnelle la plus élevée, suivie du secteur public local et du secteur bancaire. Le droit au congé payé annuel conventionnel, en légère augmentation, se situe à 26,5 jours en 2003. Dans les pays adhérents et candidats, la durée moyenne de travail conventionnelle est bien supérieure, avec presque 40 heures par semaines et plus de 1 800 heures par an.
- 09 Jul 2004
EU Countries: Entwicklungen im Bereich der Arbeitszeit - 2003<#PDF_LINK>Die vorliegende Studie über die Entwicklungen im Hinblick auf die Länge der Arbeitszeit in den Jahren 2002 und 2003 zeigt, dass die tariflich vereinbarte durchschnittliche Wochenarbeitszeit in der gegenwärtigen Europäischen Union (und Norwegen) mit etwa 38 Stunden relativ unverändert geblieben ist. Die vereinbarte reguläre Jahresarbeitszeit beträgt in der EU und in Norwegen durchschnittlich ca. 1 700 Stunden. Von den drei untersuchten Sektoren liegt die vereinbarte Wochenarbeitszeit in der metallverarbeitenden Industrie am höchsten, gefolgt von den lokalen Verwaltungen und vom Bankwesen. Der tariflich vereinbarte durchschnittliche Jahresurlaub ist 2003 leicht angestiegen und liegt nun bei 26,5 Tagen. In den Beitrittsländern und den Kandidatenländern liegt die tariflich vereinbarte durchschnittliche Arbeitszeit wesentlich höher: die Wochenarbeitszeit beträgt im Durchschnitt nahezu 40 Stunden und die Jahresarbeitszeit über 1 800 Stunden.
- 08 Jul 2004
Spain: Thematic feature - individual labour/employment disputes and the courts<#PDF_LINK>This article examines how individual labour/employment disputes are handled through the courts in Spain, as at March 2004.
- 08 Jul 2004
Finland: Thematic feature - individual labour/employment disputes and the courts<#PDF_LINK>This article examines how individual labour/employment disputes are handled through the courts in Finland, as at March 2004.
- 08 Jul 2004
Netherlands: Thematic feature - individual labour/employment disputes and the courts<#PDF_LINK>This article examines how individual labour/employment disputes are handled through the courts in the Netherlands, as at March 2004.
- 08 Jul 2004
France: Thematic feature - individual labour/employment disputes and the courts<#PDF_LINK>This article examines how individual labour/employment disputes are handled through the courts in France, as at March 2004.
- 08 Jul 2004
Slovenia: Constitution changed on disability and pension rights<#PDF_LINK>In June 2004, the Slovene parliament approved changes to three Articles of the Constitution. These include new provisions to ensure equal rights for people with disabilities and make pensions a constitutional right.
- 07 Jul 2004
France: Redundancy rules suspended for further six months<#PDF_LINK>In early 2003, the French government suspended until July 2004 new provisions on redundancy procedures introduced by a 2002 social modernisationlaw, and gave the social partners an opportunity to negotiate over company restructuring. In June 2004, with little progress made in these talks, parliament extended the suspension of the relevant provisions until January 2005.
- 07 Jul 2004
Netherlands: Atypical labour relations face stricter regulation in 2003<#PDF_LINK>Atypical labour relations came under stricter regulation in 2003. Policy focused increasingly on creating more clarity. The criteria have been tightened for self-employed persons without staff, discerning them from employees. This distinction is significant with respect to gaining access to employed persons insurance schemes. In 2004, the Disability Insurance (Self-employed Persons) Act (Wet op de Arbeidsongeschiktheid van Zelfstandigen - WAZ) will be scrapped. Illegal employment is being clamped down on: policy focuses on stamping out illegal temping agencies and imposing sanctions on employers who hire in illegal workers. After all, temporary employees were taken up in a new collective labour agreement in 2003, clarifying aspects such as salary levels. From now on, temporary employee salaries are on the same level as those paid out by the hiring party; higher salaries were agreed in exchange for flexibility.
- 07 Jul 2004
Finland: Major consolidation of unions taking place<#PDF_LINK>Trade unions are going through a period of consolidation and merger in Finland. In May-July 2004, several new developments took place in this unification process, including the merger of the Chemical Workers' Union and the Textile and Garment Workers' Union.
- 07 Jul 2004
Latvia: Subsidised summer work scheme for school students<#PDF_LINK>In 2004, the Latvian government has for the first time introduced a subsidised scheme to promote the employment of school students during their summer holidays. Young people aged 15-18 may work for a month for private and public employers over June-August, with the state funding part of their wages. The programme has proved very popular with both young people and employers.
- 07 Jul 2004
Poland: Protest by Silesian healthcare workers<#PDF_LINK>In June 2004, NSZZ Solidarność trade union activists from the healthcare sector in Poland's Silesia region staged a protest at the headquarters of the National Health Fund (NFZ). The protesters claimed that the current system of financing healthcare is pushing medical institutions deeper into debt, damaging services and threatening redundancies and the closure of facilities in Silesia. Negotiations between the protesters and NFZ representatives brought no concrete results.
- 07 Jul 2004
Poland: Protests over regional rail restructuring<#PDF_LINK>In June 2004, plans by PKP Regional Transport - part of Polish National Railways - to merge a number of its regional units met opposition from rail workers' trade unions, which fear job losses. The proposed merger of the Podlasie and Mazowsze regional operations proved particularly controversial, leading to a hunger strike by two NSZZ Solidarność activists, as did that of the Małopolska and Świętokrzyskie units. Following tripartite discussions, the planned mergers have been suspended while further analyses are carried out.
- 07 Jul 2004
Belgium: Consultations with social partners after regional elections<#PDF_LINK>Following regional elections in Belgium in June 2004, trade unions and employers’ organisations have been consulted prior to the formation of new governments in Flanders, Wallonia and Brussels. Before commencing strictly political negotiations, those responsible for forming the new regional coalition governments invited social partners' leaders to discuss their demands .
- 07 Jul 2004
Denmark: Footballers' union joins LO<#PDF_LINK>In June 2004, the Danish Football Players' Association became a member union of the Confederation of Danish Trade Unions (LO). The context is a conflict between the union and football clubs over FIFA transfer rules. On 1 July, the union gave notice of a strike from 1 August, in which it will now receive support from LO.
- 07 Jul 2004
Germany: Metalworking training regulations updated<#PDF_LINK>On 1 August 2004, new classifications and training requirements for occupations in the metalworking sector will come into force in Germany. The revised regulations, replacing provisions adopted in 1987, were drawn up jointly by employer and trade union representatives under the aegis of the Federal Institute for Vocational Training (BIBB).
- 07 Jul 2004
Germany: Constitutional Court upholds shop hours law<#PDF_LINK>In June 2004, Germany’s highest court, the Federal Constitutional Court, ruled that the country’s law that regulates shop opening hours is in line with the Constitution. The Court upheld the ban that prevents most shop from opening after 20.00 from Mondays to Saturdays, and from opening on Sundays and public holidays.
- 07 Jul 2004
Estonia: Social partners discuss government labour market plans<#PDF_LINK>In June 2004, the Estonian government issued proposals for a reform of labour market measures, including amendments making receipt of unemployment benefit more dependent on active job-seeking. Central social partner organisations are generally supportive of the plans, though the Estonian Employers’ Confederation (ETTK) is in favour of even deeper structural changes.
- 07 Jul 2004
Austria: Employers launch debate on longer working hours<#PDF_LINK>In June 2004, the new president of the Federation of Austrian Industry (IV) employers' organisation, with partial support from the Chamber of the Economy (WKÖ), demanded a relaxation of Austria’s working time regulations, in terms of both legislation and collective agreements, and raised the idea of longer working hours. This initiative has received a mixed response, with the Minister for the Economy and Labour Affairs apparently undecided and trade unions strongly opposed.
- 07 Jul 2004
Romania: National collective agreement put on hold<#PDF_LINK>In May 2004, negotiations in Romania over a national collective agreement for 2004 broke down and the bargaining process has been put on hold. While 10 out of 12 nationally representative employers’ organisations and four out of five nationally representative trade union confederations agreed to sign a draft accord, the Cartel Alfa union confederation refused to do so, as it rejected the proposed increase in the national minimum wage.
- 07 Jul 2004
Netherlands: Industrial action and end to pay freeze loom following early retirement deadlock<#PDF_LINK>June 2004 saw the breakdown of tripartite talks in the Netherlands over new arrangements for early retirement and a life-span regulation, enabling workers greater scope to save and manage periods of time off over their careers. With the government now intending to continue with its own plans, the trade unions have decided to organise industrial action in support of their position. Furthermore, as the 2004-5 pay freeze agreed in autumn 2003 was dependent on a settlement of the early retirement/leave issue, the unions have stated that they will no longer be bound by it.
- 07 Jul 2004
Norway: Decision postponed on extension of collective agreements<#PDF_LINK>Since 1993, Norway has had provisions in place allowing for collective agreements to be extended to non-members of the signatory organisations, where this will prevent the employment of foreign workers on substandard pay and working conditions. The first application for such an extension, relating to seven onshore petroleum installations, was filed in December 2003 by the LO trade union confederation. In June 2004, the Tariff Board considering the issue decided to postpone its decision, as insufficient evidence of social dumpinghad been presented. Further documentation will now be gathered.
- 07 Jul 2004
Greece: New rules on part-time employment in public sector<#PDF_LINK>In June 2004, a new law was adopted in Greece to regulate the recruitment by public sector organisations of unemployed people and other groups in a difficult labour market position on part-time, fixed-term contracts in order to provide certain social services. The new provisions replace legislation on this issue passed only a year previously.
- 06 Jul 2004
Cyprus: OEB launches code of conduct on sexual harassment<#PDF_LINK>In June 2004, the Employers and Industrialists Federation (OEB) of Cyprus issued a code of practice aimed at addressing the problem of sexual harassment in the workplace.
- 06 Jul 2004
Slovenia: Doctors and dentists hold protest strike<#PDF_LINK>In late May 2004, the Trade Union of Doctors and Dentists of Slovenia (FIDES) organised a one-hour warning strike to support demands over the regulation of its members' working time. The union subsequently gained a number of concessions from the Ministry of Health. This was the latest development in FIDES's long-standing dissatisfaction with doctors' and dentists' workload and pay, and with the healthcare system as a whole.
- 06 Jul 2004
Slovenia: Sectoral bargaining makes progress<#PDF_LINK>Following a lengthy period of deadlock and dispute, in May-June 2004 progress has finally been made in the negotiation of new sectoral collective agreements in Slovenia. A pay deal has been agreed in the important metalworking and electrical industry, as well as in other sectors such as banking, while agreement seems near in chemicals and agriculture/food.
- 06 Jul 2004
Netherlands: Debate over policy on older workers<#PDF_LINK>New legislation banning age discrimination came into force in the Netherlands in May 2004. The law could help achieve the government's aim of increasing labour market participation among older workers, but there have been some reports of companies responding by abolishing protective measures for older workers. Employers' organisations and trade unions support the government's policy of enabling people to continue working for longer, but in practice employers and unions still often seem to act in a way that contradicts this objective (eg through introducing early retirement or dismissing older workers).
- 06 Jul 2004
United Kingdom: White paper on single equality and human rights commission published<#PDF_LINK>In May 2004, the UK government published a white paper on the establishment of a single body to promote equality of opportunity and human rights, which will eventually take over the functions of the existing, separate commissions in the areas of race and sex equality and disabled people’s rights.
- 06 Jul 2004
EU Level: Electricity partners agree joint statement on skills needs<#PDF_LINK>In June 2002, the EU-level social partners in the electricity sector agreed a joint statement on future skills needs in their industry, in the context of liberalisation. The statement includes a framework of actions aimed at improving skills levels.
- 06 Jul 2004
EU Level: Continuing training guidelines agreed in hotels and restaurants <#PDF_LINK>The EU-level social partners in the hotels and restaurants sector agreed in June 2004 joint recommendations on how to implement continuing training and personal development measures. The guidelines aim in particular to help small and medium-sized enterprises.
- 06 Jul 2004
EU Level: Commission launches public consultation on anti-discrimination policy <#PDF_LINK>In June 2004, the European Commission launched an online public consultation on the future direction of anti-discrimination policy in the EU. Based on a Green Paper on this issue, the consultation will be open until the end of August 2004.
- 06 Jul 2004
Malta: Air Malta rescue plan agreed <#PDF_LINK>In May 2004, negotiations between the Maltese government and four trade unions representing the workforce of Air Malta resulted in an agreement which aims to return the national airline to viability, while guaranteeing that no jobs are lost.
- 06 Jul 2004
Norway: Government intervenes to halt offshore oil strike<#PDF_LINK>In late June 2004, the Norwegian government imposed compulsory arbitration to end a week-long industrial dispute in the offshore oil sector, faced with the threat of a total halt in oil production on the Norwegian continental shelf.
- 06 Jul 2004
United Kingdom: Government consults on long working hours<#PDF_LINK>In late June 2004, in the light of EU-level discussions on the possible amendment of the working time Directive, the UK’s Department of Trade and Industry launched a consultation on the operation of the individual opt-out from the 48-hour weekly working time limit in the UK and ways to improve its application.
- 06 Jul 2004
Ireland: Social partners agree draft 18-month national pay deal<#PDF_LINK>In June 2004, the Irish social partners negotiated a draft pay deal under stage two of the current Sustaining Progress national partnership agreement. If ratified, it will provide for an average pay rise of 5.5% over 18 months.
- 05 Jul 2004
EU Countries: Gewerkschaftsmitgliederzahlen im Zeitraum 1993 bis 2003<#PDF_LINK>Dieser Bericht untersucht Entwicklungen der Gewerkschaftsmitgliederzahlen in 23 EU-Mitgliedstaaten, zwei Kandidatenländern und Norwegen im Zeitraum 1993 bis 2003. Er betrachtet die Zahl der Gewerkschaftsmitglieder, die relative Größe der wichtigsten Organisationen und den Mitgliederanteil nach Geschlecht sowie die Probleme bei der Beurteilung des gewerkschaftlichen Organisationsgrads.
- 05 Jul 2004
EU Countries: Évolution de la syndicalisation de 1993 à 2003<#PDF_LINK>Ce rapport étudie l'évolution de la syndicalisation dans 23 États membres de l'UE, deux pays candidats et la Norvège entre 1993 et 2003. Il examine le nombre de syndiqués, la taille relative des principales organisations et la ventilation des adhérents par sexe, ainsi que les problèmes liés à l’évaluation du taux de syndicalisation.
- 02 Jul 2004
Netherlands: Controversy over early retirement and life-span leave<#PDF_LINK>In autumn 2003, as part of a deal that included a pay freeze for 2004-5, the Dutch government and social partners agreed to talks over the former's proposals for new arrangements for early retirement and a life-span regulation, enabling workers greater scope to save and manage periods of time off over their careers. Consensus over such a scheme was regarded as a prerequisite for maintaining the pay freeze. However, after lengthy and difficult negotiations, no agreement was reached at a tripartite meeting on 18 May 2004. A key sticking point is the extent to which early retirement leave arrangements should be collective or individual.
- 02 Jul 2004
Romania: Social stability pact signed without some trade union confederations<#PDF_LINK>At the end of April 2004, a tripartite social stability pactfor 2004 was finally concluded in Romania, setting many important economic and social strategy goals, which are to be carefully monitored though a set of indicators. Furthermore, separate protocols are to be drawn up for each of the areas covered. However, three of the five nationally representative trade union confederations did not sign the agreement.