Annual reports
Annual reports from the Observatory network of national correspondents
31 October 2012: Industrial relations and working conditions developments in Europe 2011 [or view as 
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This annual review describes the developments in industrial relations and working conditions in 2011 in the EU Member States and Norway, at both national and EU level, with a focus on the economic situation and responses to it. The report describes the current economic situation in EU Member States and highlights relevant political and legislative developments in individual countries. It describes labour market trends in Europe and developments in career and employment security, health and well-being at work, skills development and work–life balance. It also examines changes in the organisation and role of social partners, developments in collective bargaining (at cross-sectoral, sectoral and company levels), working time, pay developments, social dialogue developments, industrial conflicts and company restructuring in 2011. At European level, the report summarises the main events over the course of 2011, charting trends in European social policy, employment legislation and social dialogue.
12 October 2011: Industrial relations and working conditions developments in Europe 2010 [or view as size 541 kb]
With a particular focus on the crisis and responses to it, this annual review highlights developments in working conditions and industrial relations in the EU Member States and Norway in 2010, both at national and EU level. At national level, the report examines key issues covered by collective bargaining (pay and working time) and looks at developments in social partner activity and industrial action. It also looks at company restructuring, the impact of the crisis and approaches to pension reform in light of demographic change. At European level, it reviews the year’s main events and trends in employment legislation and policy (in areas like paternity/maternity leave and working time), as well as in the European social dialogue at cross-sectoral, sectoral and company levels. The final chapter focuses on training initiatives provided or supported by enterprises for their employees during the recession.
23 December 2010: Annual review of working conditions 2009–2010 [or view as 
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This seventh annual review examines four key dimensions of working conditions and quality of work and employment: career development and employment security, health and well-being, skills and competence development, and work–life balance. The report outlines relevant legislative and policy developments, and examines trends in the workplace during the period 2009–2010.
28 September 2009: Annual review of working conditions 2008–2009 [or view as size 741 kb]
This sixth annual review examines four key dimensions of working conditions and quality of work and employment: career development and employment security, health and well-being, skills and competence development, and work–life balance. The report outlines relevant legislative and policy developments, and examines trends in the workplace during the period 2008–2009.
7 July 2008: Annual review of working conditions in the EU 2007–2008 [or view as size 1495 kb]
This fifth annual review examines four key dimensions of working conditions and quality of work and employment: career development and employment security, health and well-being, skills and competence development, and work–life balance. The report outlines relevant legislative and policy developments, and examines trends in the workplace during the period 2007-2008.
16 July 2007: Annual review of working conditions in the EU 2006–2007 [or view as size 820 kb]
This fourth annual review examines four key dimensions of working conditions and quality of work and employment: career and employment, health and well-being at work, skills development and work–life balance. The report outlines relevant legislative and policy developments, and examines trends in the workplace.
08 June 2006: Annual review of working conditions in the EU: 2005–2006 [or view as size 1154 kb]
This third annual review examines four key dimensions of working conditions and quality of work and employment: career and employment, health and well-being, skills development, and work–life balance. The report outlines relevant legislative and policy developments, and examines trends in the workplace. As part of its work programme for 2005, the European Commission presented a series of communications on migration, and extensive debate continues on this issue. The Working Time Directive also remains on the agenda, with continuing discussions on the individual opt-out and on the definition of ‘on-call’ time. Musculoskeletal disorders remain the most predominant work-related health problem. A welcome development in the area of health and well-being was the start of negotiations between the European social partners on combating violence and harassment in the workplace. Gender equality received specific attention in several EU policy documents, not least the European Parliament’s Committee on Employment and Social Affairs report on the impact of long working hours on reconciliation of work and family life, and the impact on equal opportunities. Another topic high on the agenda is training, lifelong learning and competence development; attaining a knowledge society and a highly qualified workforce forms a crucial element for the success of the Lisbon Strategy.
25 February 2005: Annual review of working conditions in the EU: 2004–2005 [or view as size 554 kb]
This second annual review examines four key dimensions in working conditions and quality of work and employment: career and employment, health and well-being, skills development, and work–life balance. The report outlines relevant legislative and policy developments, and examines trends in the workplace. In terms of career and employment, employment rates are consistently rising for women and older workers, at least in the EU15, but progress is currently too slow to achieve the Lisbon targets. In the area of health and well-being, improvements regarding safety at work are reflected in the significant decline of serious and fatal accidents at work. The European social partner agreement on work-related stress is a further step towards achieving quality of work and employment. Looking at skills development, participation rates in lifelong learning have increased, particularly for women, although there was a drop in IT-related training. Under work–life balance, progress has been slow, due to a complexity of factors involved in improving reconciliation of working and non-working life, such as work organisation, working time arrangements, or provision of care facilities.
28 June 2004: Annual review of working conditions in the EU: 2003–2004 [or view as size 421 kb]
This review examines four key dimensions in working conditions and quality of work and employment: career and employment, health and well-being, skills development and work–life balance. The report first outlines relevant legislative and policy developments, before examining trends in the workplace. In terms of career and employment, employment rates are consistently rising for women and older workers, at least in the EU15, but progress is currently too slow to achieve the Lisbon targets. In the area of health and well-being, improvements regarding safety at work are reflected in the significant decline of serious and fatal accidents at work. Looking at skills development, participation rates in lifelong learning have increased, particularly for women. There was a drop in IT-related training. Under work–life balance, progress has been slow, due to a complexity of factors involved in improving reconciliation of working and non-working life, such as work organisation, working time arrangements, or provision of care facilities.
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