European Working Conditions Observatory (EWCO)
17 May 2013:
Tackling the gender pay gap in the EU
(EU Level / Information update)
Despite many years of equal pay legislation, the gender pay gap was just over 16% in the European Union in 2010, with wide variations between Member States from 0.9% in Slovenia to 27.7% in Estonia. Various inter-related factors contribute to the gap and the European Commission is committed to reducing it. Its actions include legislation, equality strategies, measures to help companies to implement equal pay, and awareness-raising events.
17 May 2013:
Legislation and its impact on collective bargaining
(Luxembourg / Information update)
As long ago as 1998, the Luxembourg Government issued a National Action Plan on jobs, following this up with new rules on collective agreements in 2004. However, a 2012 study on the role of sectoral and company collective bargaining found that the National Action Plan is often ignored. The study examined four areas (working time, employment, training, and gender equality). Implementation of national regulations was found to differ considerably between sectors.
17 May 2013:
Gender wage gap still prevalent in private sector
(Portugal / Information update)
Over the past 15 years, women have become an increasingly important part of the Portuguese labour force. Despite this, and the increasing numbers of well-qualified women, the wage gap between men and women is still a structural characteristic of the country. A study by the Observatory on Inequalities of the Centre for Research and Studies in Sociology at Lisbon University sought to measure the gender wage gap in the private sector and how this changed between 1988 and 2008.
10 May 2013:
Income inequality unchanged but rise in poverty risk
(Ireland / Information update)
Recently released data from the Survey on Income and Living Conditions show that levels of income inequality between 2004 and 2011 were stable and appear to have been largely unaffected by the onset of the economic crisis in 2008. Disposable income levels rose up until 2008 but have since receded, while the deprivation rate has climbed year on year since 2007. The numbers of those at risk of poverty and the consistent poverty rate have also risen since 2008, but not to the same extent.
10 May 2013:
Restructuring and its impact on workers’ health
(Spain / Information update)
Companies in Spain are failing to consider the effect of restructuring on workers’ health. A report from the national health and safety watchdog says that the health dimension has generally been missing when companies have reshaped their operations. Yet the process, more common in recent years because of the economic crisis, often brings changes that affect employees’ psychosocial health, leading to decreased productivity, more sickness and an increase in early retirement.
10 May 2013:
Impact of the crisis on gender equality
(EU Level / Information update)
A new report for the European Commission prepared by the European Network of Experts on Gender Equality examines the impact of the crisis on the situation of women and men at work and on gender equality policies. The report found a significant impact for both men and women in areas such as type of contract, working hours, rights at work, and pressure and harassment at work, although the worsening of working conditions tended to affect men and women slightly differently.
07 May 2013:
Impact of salary on job satisfaction
(Belgium / Information update)
Two job search magazines have published the results of job satisfaction surveys of workers in Belgium. Jobat and Vacature asked about salaries, bonuses and holidays, and investigated the link between job satisfaction and factors such as age, employment status, function, sector, and company size. Taken together, the results of both surveys tend to confirm each other’s findings, one of which was that around half of Belgium’s workers feel their workload warrants higher pay.
07 May 2013:
Prevalence of cancer in certain occupations
(Norway / Information update)
A report has shed new light on the incidence of cancer in different occupational groups in Norway. The report Occupation and cancer shows that certain types of cancer, including lung cancer, are especially prevalent in construction and in some jobs in the manufacturing and service industries. Among women, a higher risk of lung cancer was found among painting and wallpapering workers. An increased risk of breast cancer was found in women doing jobs requiring higher educational qualifications.
07 May 2013:
Job satisfaction among community nurses
(Lithuania / Information update)
Job satisfaction levels among community nurses in Lithuania have been investigated by researchers at Šiauliai State College. The findings show that the main factors affecting nurses’ job satisfaction among are work autonomy, satisfaction with work organisation and favourable working conditions. The research established a scale of factors tailored to the professional activities of nurses and also broke down responses by age, for those above and below the age of 45.
07 May 2013:
Effects of the economic crisis on employment
(Spain / Information update)
In Spain, 3.3 million jobs were lost between 2008 and 2012. A recent report shows that the job losses have particularly affected poorly qualified workers and temporary workers, hitting men and young people hard. Spain’s unemployment rate reached 25% at the end of 2012, one of the highest in the European Union. Other characteristics of the job market have also changed; long-term unemployment and labour turnover has increased, and the average length of temporary contracts is shorter.