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The Act on Data Protection in Working Life [1] (477/2001) came into force on
1 October 2001 (FI0106191F [2]), governing the protection of personal data in
the employment context. However, it lacked clear rules in a number of areas,
such as employers’ rights to conduct drug tests on job applicants and
employees, use video surveillance at the workplace and open employees’
e-mails while they are absent. On the initiative of parliament, the Ministry
of Labour soon afterwards set up a working group to prepare proposals for
legislation in these areas. The group included members from the Ministry of
Social Affairs and Health, the Ministry of Transport and the Data Protection
Ombudsman (Tietosuojaviranomaiset), as well as representatives of trade
unions and employers’ organisations. It published its unanimous report on
26 June 2003.[1] http://www.mol.fi/english/working/dataprotection.html
[2] www.eurofound.europa.eu/ef/observatories/eurwork/articles/undefined-working-conditions/act-on-protection-of-privacy-in-working-life-adoptedOn 28 June 2003, the German Metalworkers' Union (Industriegewerkschaft
Metall, IG Metall) called off a four-week strike in the eastern German
metalworking industry, after failing in its attempts to negotiate a 35-hour
working week (down from the current 38 hours) with employers' associations,
amid widespread opposition to the action in the federal government, amongst
the general public and, indeed, in the union's ranks (DE0307204F [1]). IG
Metall's defeat has revived the debate on the future of collective bargaining
in Germany.[1] www.eurofound.europa.eu/ef/observatories/eurwork/articles/ig-metall-suffers-defeat-over-35-hour-week-in-east-german-metalworking
The Austrian Trade Union Federation (Österreichischer Gewerkschaftsbund,
ÖGB) enjoys a de facto monopoly of trade union representation, and Austrian
trade unionism is thus characterised by a notably high degree of unity and
coherence. ÖGB is currently divided into 13 member unions which together
cover all branches of the economy. Their membership domains are, in general,
complementary, though not in the strict sense that only one union always
covers any given sector or company. In the private sector, six blue-collar
workers' unions and one white-collar union coexist. Furthermore, there are
two unions which represent both blue- and white-collar workers - in the arts,
media, sports and liberal professions and in the printing, journalism and
paper industry respectively. The pattern of union representation in the
public sector mirrors the structure of the employing public authorities.
Accordingly, there are separate unions for central and regional government
and for local government. Separate unions also exist for former public
enterprises - ie postal services and telecommunications companies and the
Austrian Federal Railways (Österreichische Bundesbahnen, ÖBB) - which are
undergoing a transition period due to liberalisation and privatisation.An agreement on the reform of pay and conditions of employment covering a
million National Health Service (NHS) staff was concluded at the end of 2002
(UK0303104F [1]), and ratified later in membership ballots held by trade
unions (UK0306103N [2]). Separate negotiations between the government health
departments, NHS employers and the British Medical Association (BMA) - a
powerful professional association and the main trade union for more than
100,000 doctors - proved to be more difficult. The negotiation and
ratification of new contracts for 43,000 local doctors (general practitioners
or GPs), and for 27,000 hospital consultants and specialist registrars,
exposed serious tensions within the BMA and in its relationship with
government ministers. This feature first explores the completed contract
negotiations for GPs. It then outlines the main elements of a tentative
agreement on a new contract for hospital consultants reached on 17 July. If
this is accepted in a ballot of BMA members in August, it will end the threat
of industrial action by hospital doctors.[1] www.eurofound.europa.eu/ef/observatories/eurwork/articles/new-pay-system-planned-in-national-health-service
[2] www.eurofound.europa.eu/ef/observatories/eurwork/articles/national-health-service-pay-reforms-ratified-by-union-membersOn 28 June 2003, a dispute over the introduction of a 35-hour working week in
the eastern German metalworking industry ended when the German Metalworkers'
Union (Industriegewerkschaft Metall, IG Metall) called off a four-week after
negotiations finally broke down without any agreement being reached. The
negotiating parties on the employers' side were the federal employers'
association for the German metalworking and electrical industry,
Gesamtmetall, and two regional employers' associations for the metalworking
industry in the eastern states (Länder) of Berlin, Brandenburg and Saxony -
Verband der Metall- und Elektroindustrie in Berlin und Brandenburg (VME) and
Verband der Sächsischen Metall- und Elektroindustrie (VSME).Although the Danish social partners have for many years sought to present
older workers as a vital resource for the labour market, describing them as
'the grey gold' (Det grå guld), new studies from the Confederation of Danish
Trade Unions (Landsorganisationen i Danmark, LO) and Danish Employers’
Confederation (Dansk Arbejdsgiverforening, DA) show that the older people are
when they become unemployed, the less is their likelihood of getting back
into employment. As many as 16.2% of people in the 53-57 age group who lost
their job before the end of 2000 were still unemployed two years later, while
the corresponding figure for the 30-39 age group was only 5.4%. While it
becomes increasingly difficult for all age groups to return to employment the
longer they are unemployed, the chance of finding a new job is much smaller
for peopled aged over 53 than for younger groups. Each time an unemployed
person aged 53 years or over celebrates his or her birthday, the risk of
ending up long-term unemployed increases by up to 50%. These figures come
from an LO report entitled /Focusing on employment/ (Øje på beskæftigelsen
[1]) which was published in May 2003 and are based on figures from the
Ministry of Employment.[1] http://topmoede.dk/smmedia/OPB maj 2003 i PDF-format.PDF.PDF?mb_GUID=5B07F632-6EFD-41BA-A381-DB801D66A851.PDF
EU Directive 96/71/EC concerning the posting of workers in the framework of
the provision of services [1] seeks to avoid 'social dumping' by ensuring
that a minimum set of rights is guaranteed for workers posted by their
employer to work in another country. The basic principle is that the working
conditions and pay in effect in a Member State should be applicable both to
workers from that State, and those from other EU countries posted to work
there. The Directive covers undertakings established in a Member State,
which, in the framework of the transnational provision of services, post
workers to the territory of another Member State.[1] http://europa.eu.int/smartapi/cgi/sga_doc?smartapi!celexapi!prod!CELEXnumdoc&lg=EN&numdoc=31996L0071&model=guichett
EU Directive 96/71/EC concerning the posting of workers in the framework of
the provision of services [1] seeks to avoid 'social dumping' by ensuring
that a minimum set of rights is guaranteed for workers posted by their
employer to work in another country. The basic principle is that the working
conditions and pay in effect in a Member State should be applicable both to
workers from that State, and those from other EU countries posted to work
there. The Directive covers undertakings established in a Member State,
which, in the framework of the transnational provision of services, post
workers to the territory of another Member State.[1] http://europa.eu.int/smartapi/cgi/sga_doc?smartapi!celexapi!prod!CELEXnumdoc&lg=EN&numdoc=31996L0071&model=guichett
This article examines the Spanish situation, as of June 2003, with regard to:
legislation and collective bargaining on the pay and conditions of posted
workers (ie workers from one EU Member State posted by their employer to work
in another); the number of such posted workers; and the views of the social
partners and government on the issue.EU Directive 96/71/EC concerning the posting of workers in the framework of
the provision of services [1] seeks to avoid 'social dumping' by ensuring
that a minimum set of rights is guaranteed for workers posted by their
employer to work in another country. The basic principle is that the working
conditions and pay in effect in a Member State should be applicable both to
workers from that State, and those from other EU countries posted to work
there. The Directive covers undertakings established in a Member State,
which, in the framework of the transnational provision of services, post
workers to the territory of another Member State.[1] http://europa.eu.int/smartapi/cgi/sga_doc?smartapi!celexapi!prod!CELEXnumdoc&lg=EN&numdoc=31996L0071&model=guichett
Series
European Restructuring Monitor
The European Restructuring Monitor (ERM) has reported on the employment impact of large-scale business restructuring since 2002. This publication series include the ERM reports, as well as blogs, articles and working papers on restructuring-related events in the EU27 and Norway.
European Working Conditions Telephone Survey 2021
Eurofound’s European Working Conditions Survey (EWCS) paints a wide-ranging picture of Europe at work across countries, occupations, sectors and age groups. This series consists of findings from the European Working Conditions Telephone Survey (EWCTS) 2021, an extraordinary edition conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic. The survey was first carried out in 1990.
Developments in working life, industrial relations and working conditions in the EU
This publication series gathers all overview reports on developments in working life, annual reviews in industrial relations and working conditions produced by Eurofound on the basis of national contributions from the Network of Eurofound Correspondents (NEC). Since 1997, these reports have provided overviews of the latest developments in industrial relations and working conditions across the EU and Norway. The series may include recent ad hoc articles written by members of the NEC.
COVID-19
Eurofound’s work on COVID-19 examines the far-reaching socioeconomic implications of the pandemic across Europe as they continue to impact living and working conditions. A key element of the research is the e-survey, launched in April 2020, with five rounds completed at different stages during 2020, 2021 and 2022. This is complemented by the inclusion of research into the ongoing effects of the pandemic in much of Eurofound’s other areas of work.
Sectoral social dialogue
Eurofound's representativeness studies are designed to allow the European Commission to identify the ‘management and labour’ whom it must consult under article 154 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU). This series consists of studies of the representativeness of employer and worker organisations in various sectors.
Minimum wages in the EU
This series reports on developments in minimum wage rates across the EU, including how they are set and how they have developed over time in nominal and real terms. The series explores where there are statutory minimum wages or collectively agreed minimum wages in the Member States, as well as minimum wage coverage rates by gender.
European Working Conditions Surveys
The European Working Conditions Survey (EWCS) launched in 1990 and is carried out every five years, with the latest edition in 2015. It provides an overview of trends in working conditions and quality of employment for the last 30 years. It covers issues such as employment status, working time duration and organisation, work organisation, learning and training, physical and psychosocial risk factors, health and safety, work–life balance, worker participation, earnings and financial security, work and health, and most recently also the future of work.
Challenges and prospects in the EU
Eurofound’s Flagship report series 'Challenges and prospects in the EU' comprise research reports that contain the key results of multiannual research activities and incorporate findings from different related research projects. Flagship reports are the major output of each of Eurofound’s strategic areas of intervention and have as their objective to contribute to current policy debates.
European Company Survey 2019
Eurofound’s European Company Survey (ECS) maps and analyses company policies and practices which can have an impact on smart, sustainable and inclusive growth, as well as the development of social dialogue in companies. This series consists of outputs from the ECS 2019, the fourth edition of the survey. The survey was first carried out in 2004–2005 as the European Survey on Working Time and Work-Life Balance.
National social partners and policymaking
This series reports on and updates latest information on the involvement of national social partners in policymaking. The series analyses the involvement of national social partners in the implementation of policy reforms within the framework of social dialogue practices, including their involvement in elaborating the National Reform Programmes (NRPs).
Forthcoming publications
This study provides information allowing for an assessment of the representativeness of the actors involved in the European sectoral social dialogue committee for the textiles and clothing sector. Their relative representativeness legitimises their right to be consulted, their role and effective participation in the European sectoral social dialogue and their capacity to negotiate agreements. The aim of this Eurofound study on representativeness is to identify the relevant national and European social partner organisations in the textiles and clothing sector in the EU Member States.
COVID-19 and the rise in telework: Impact on prevalence, working conditions and regulations
ForthcomingThe report provides an overview of the scale of teleworking before and during the COVID-19 crisis and gives an indication of ‘teleworkability’ across sectors and occupations. Building on previous Eurofound research on remote work, the report investigates the way businesses introduced and supported teleworking during the pandemic, as well as the experience of workers who were working from home during the crisis. The report also looks at developments in regulations related to telework in Member States and provides a review of stakeholders’ positions.
This paper provides an analytical summary of state of the art academic and policy literature on the impact of climate change and policies to manage transitions to a carbon neutral economy on employment, working conditions, social dialogue and living conditions. It maps the key empirical findings around the impact of climate change and the green transitions on jobs, sectors, regions and countries in Europe, identifying the opportunities and risks that climate change policies bring to European labour markets.
Representativeness of the European social partner organisations: Textiles and clothing sector
ForthcomingThis study provides information allowing for an assessment of the representativeness of the actors involved in the European sectoral social dialogue committee for the textiles and clothing sector. Their relative representativeness legitimises their right to be consulted, their role and effective participation in the European sectoral social dialogue and their capacity to negotiate agreements.
Living, working and COVID-19 e-survey report
ForthcomingThis report offers the most up to date insight on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the work and life of Europeans over the last two years. The main focus is on Eurofound’s e-survey Living, working and COVID-19 which was launched on 9 April 2020 just after the onset of the crisis. Through five rounds of the survey (two in 2020, two in 2021 and one in 2022), the range of questions changed to match the evolving situation and to understand the effects on the everyday lives of citizens and workers in the EU27.
This study provides information allowing for an assessment of the representativeness of the actors involved in the European sectoral social dialogue committee for the civil aviation sector. Their relative representativeness legitimises their right to be consulted, their role and effective participation in the European sectoral social dialogue and their capacity to negotiate agreements.
This study provides information allowing for an assessment of the representativeness of the actors involved in the European sectoral social dialogue committee for the civil aviation sector. Their relative representativeness legitimises their right to be consulted, their role and effective participation in the European sectoral social dialogue and their capacity to negotiate agreements. The aim of this Eurofound study on representativeness is to identify the relevant national and European social partner organisations in the civil aviation sector in the EU Member States.
This report explores the association between skills use and skills strategies and establishment performance, and how other workplace practices, in terms of work organisation, human resources management and employee involvement, can impact on this. It looks at how skills shortages can be addressed, at least in part, by creating an environment in which employees are facilitated and motivated to make better use of the skills they already have. This further supports the business case for a more holistic approach to management.
This report explores the drivers of economic and social convergence in Europe, using a selected set of economic and social indicators to examine trends in the performance of individual Member States. It also investigates what role the Economic and Monetary Union plays in convergence, particularly in southern and eastern Member States. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on convergence is analysed and initial conclusions are drawn about the impact of EU recovery packages and their ability to prevent divergence.
This study provides information allowing for an assessment of the representativeness of the actors involved in the European sectoral social dialogue committee for the professional football sector. Their relative representativeness legitimises their right to be consulted, their role and effective participation in the European sectoral social dialogue and their capacity to negotiate agreements. The aim of this Eurofound’s study on representativeness is to identify the relevant national and European social partner organisations in the professional football sector in the EU Member States.
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