The economic crisis has affected Slovenia quite severely. GDP decreased by about 5% between 2009 and 2011 and was estimated to be negative at -2.3%, in 2012, while the unemployment rate increased from 7% in 2008 to 12% in 2012 The main framework of social dialogue remained in place (tripartite and bipartite negotiations, wage bargaining being a part of collective agreements); however, the quality and level of social dialogue deteriorated. The trade union density rate decreased, as did membership fee revenue of the employer organisations.
In Italy there are three levels of bargaining: cross-sector, national or sectoral, and second-level (territorial or company-level). Cross-sector bargaining can be bilateral – i.e. between employer associations and trade union organisations – or trilateral, when other national public authorities are involved.
Cross-sector social dialogue exists in the form of inter-sector collective bargaining in part of the public sector, and in the form of tripartite consultations – both at the national level. Inter-sector collective bargaining covers the education sector, part of the healthcare sector and some public service organisations.
European Union Member States are obliged to prevent abuse arising from the
use of successive fixed-term employment contracts or relationships, in
accordance with Article 2 of Council Directive 99/70/EC [1].
The social partner peak-level organisations mentioned in this study recognise each other as equal partners with respect to collective bargaining and employment regulation. There are four confederations on the employees’ side, one for basically private sector blue-collar workers (LO), one for basically public sector white-collar workers (FTF), and one for university graduates AC). The members of the fourth, LH, are managers and executives, i.e. traditionally trusted employees, and therefore not covered by a traditional collective wage agreement in the private sector.
As part of the reorganisation and modernisation of the Cyprus
Telecommunications Authority (CyTA [1]) and with the immediate objective of
reducing its operating costs, CyTA announced a voluntary early retirement
scheme in December 2013. It aims to cut staff by between 550 and 600 and is
expected to save €366.4 million in wage costs between now and 2015.
However, the cost of implementing the scheme, including pension costs, is
estimated to be €102.9 million.
The crisis has deeply affected the Spanish economy and labour market. As a consequence, the unemployment rate has continuously increased since 2008, being recorded at 25% in the third quarter of 2012 (Labour Force Survey). Under these adverse circumstances, the social partners CEOE and CEPYME on the employer side, and CCOO and UGT on the employee side, signed the cross-sector ‘National Agreement for Employment and Collective bargaining’ (2010–2012), which was renewed in 2012.
A tripartite framework of a new centralised national agreement on wages and conditions was worked out between social partners in Finland in October 2011. The framework agreement covers 94% of Finnish employees in all sectors. Peak-level trade union confederations are: the Central Organisation of Finnish Trade Unions (SAK); the Finnish Confederation of Professionals (STTK) and the Confederation of Unions for Professional and Managerial Staff in Finland (AKAVA).
The problem of health insurance cover for Estonia’s creative freelance
professionals has long been publicly debated. In many cases, getting
insurance cover as a freelance involves a lot of bureaucracy and some workers
are not able to get insurance cover at all. On 18 December 2013, Estonia’s
parliament finally approved amendments to the Creative Persons and Artistic
Associations Act to solve these problems, and the improvements came into
effect on 20 January 2014. The role of artistic associations in social
dialogue has also been recognised. Amendments to the Health Insurance Act are
also underway to improve access to health insurance for people with
short-term employment contracts.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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).
The urban-rural divide in EU countries has grown in recent years, and the depopulation of certain rural areas in favour of cities is a challenge when it comes to promoting economic development and maintaining social cohesion and convergence. Using data from Eurofound and Eurostat, this report will investigate the trends and drivers of the urban-rural divide, in various dimensions: economic and employment opportunities, access to services, living conditions and quality of life.
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.
This study provides information allowing for an assessment of the representativeness of the actors involved in the European sectoral social dialogue committee for the furniture 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 furniture sector in the EU Member States.
This study provides information allowing for an assessment of the representativeness of the actors involved in the European sectoral social dialogue committee for the extractive industries 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 extractive industries sector in the EU Member States.
Digitisation and automation technologies, including artificial intelligence, are rapidly evolving, and becoming increasingly powerful and pervasive. While the implications of digital technologies on ethics and working conditions should be explored as they emerge, it is also important to anticipate any unintended effects that raise new ethical challenges. Drawing on different research methods and building on previous research, this report examines the effects of digital technologies on fundamental rights, ethical principles and working conditions.
This study provides information allowing for an assessment of the representativeness of the actors involved in the European sectoral social dialogue committee for the woodworking 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 woodworking sector in the EU Member States.
This study provides information allowing for an assessment of the representativeness of the actors involved in the European sectoral social dialogue committee for the construction 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 construction sector in the EU Member States.
This study provides information allowing for an assessment of the representativeness of the actors involved in European sectoral social dialogue taking place at cross-sectoral level. 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 at cross-sectoral level in the EU Member States.
This report maps and analyses key dimensions and indicators of industrial relations in the EU. It expands on the four key indicators identified in Eurofound’s 2016 study: industry democracy, industrial competitiveness, job and employment equality, and social justice. With a key focus on industrial democracy, the report provides an in-depth analysis of divergence and convergence patterns across countries. The analysis also includes the development of a composite indicator and an integrated indicator for all four industrial relations dimensions.
The interaction between workers and machines has increased due to the rapid advancement of automation technologies. The new wave of robots can perform tasks with more flexibility, greater sophistication and in a way that protects workers’ physical safety. Drawing on case studies of advanced robotics, this report explores the benefits and risks that come with closer human–machine interaction, the organisational practices needed to deal with emerging issues and the real concerns and challenges.
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