Communication calendar

Wage bargaining in the private sector commenced on 10 March 1997 with negotiations between the Norwegian Confederation of Trade Unions (LO) and theConfederation of Norwegian Business and Industry (NHO). So far the question of voluntary early retirement has been the most difficult issue and, after

The previously independent employee organisation, The Federation of Offshore Workers Trade Unions (OFS), has decided to affiliate to The Confederation of Vocational Unions (YS) from March 1997.

The number of member companies of the Confederation of Norwegian Business and Industry (NHO) increased by around 2,000 during 1996. NHO aims for a further growth in membership towards the year 2000.

Portugal's major Lisnave shipyards are being privatised. New industrial readjustment and work organisation strategies are reforming human resource management and training standards. However, in a company that has strong trade union traditions, discussions with employee representatives on

The Portuguese Government is planning to extend its "base-line" minimum income system to the whole country, and there are calls for greater involvement by the social partners in its operation.

A working group set up by the Standing Committee of the European Central Banks' Trade Unions met in Ferreira do Zêzere in March, and issued a declaration relating to the rights of workers involved in the production and circulation of the Euro.

The Government has published a working document, entitled "Maritime and ports policy at the approach of the 21st Century", for public debate. In the document it proposes a number of measures to deregulate dock work, and the National Federation of Dockers' Unions has criticised the lack of prior

Law 21/96, which aims to reduce the working week to 40 hours, has given rise to labour disputes in certain sectors and some controversial statements. An official communication released by the Secretary of State for Employment in March attempts to shed light on the areas of concern.