Publications

When it comes to Europe’s COVID-19 recovery and its aspiration to build back a more resilient society, the so-called green and digital transitions have dominated EU policy discussions. And as Eurofound made preparations for the 2022 Foundation Forum – a unique occasion for high-level debate on the state of living and working in Europe – these twin transitions were at the forefront of people’s minds. That is, until one week before the event, when Russia invaded Ukraine.

Despite the well-known adverse effects of regular long working hours on workers’ health, well-being and performance, many workers in the EU continue to work beyond their normal hours. Part of this additional working time is classified as overtime. This report takes a comparative overview of how overtime is regulated in the EU Member States, Norway and the United Kingdom, including its definition, the limits on its use and the compensation received by workers for working extra hours.

One of the most striking developments of the last half-century has been the huge rise in female labour market participation in advanced economies. More than two out of every three net new jobs created over the last two decades in the EU have been taken up by women, who now account for 46% of the workforce in the EU27. In 2002, the comparable figure was less than 43% and in the early 1990s it was less than 40%. This is a reflection of growing opportunities for women as well as the consolidation of a broader trend towards dual earner households.

This paper provides a context for the questions to be explored within the Foundation Forum 2022. Europe is emerging from the COVID-19 crisis having managed to protect its economy in the face of a major shock and prevent mass unemployment. However, challenges remain. While the Member States up to now appear to have diverged only moderately, at most, on key economic and social indicators, it seems that the pandemic has widened many social inequalities. The mass shift to telework has raised questions over how the world of work will look in the future.

The informal meeting of EU ministers responsible for employment and social policy (EPSCO) took place in Bordeaux on 14–15 February 2022. The meeting focused on the challenges posed by the major green and digital transitions to the labour market, and the way in which the European Union can support these transitions within the framework of the construction of a new European model of growth.

In den vergangenen Jahren war über alle EU-Mitgliedstaaten hinweg – von einigen statistischen Ausreißern abgesehen – ein Rückgang der Arbeitskampfaktivität zu beobachten. Dieser Trend hat sich während der COVID-19-Pandemie fortgesetzt, wobei die am signifikantesten Konflikte, wenig überraschend, das Gesundheitswesen und die sozialen Einrichtungen, das Bildungswesen sowie die Bereiche Transport und Logistik betrafen. Dieser Bericht enthält eine Analyse der im Zeitraum 2018/2019 von Eurofound im Rahmen des Aufbaus der Pilotdatenbank „Industrial Action Monitor“ (IAM) erhobenen Daten.

In diesem Bericht werden die Auswirkungen der COVID-19-Krise auf die Lebensqualität älterer Menschen erfasst, darunter die Auswirkungen auf ihr Wohlbefinden, ihre Finanzen, ihre Beschäftigung und ihre soziale Eingliederung. Es werden die Auswirkungen auf die Inanspruchnahme von Pflegediensten und die Abhängigkeit älterer Menschen von anderen Unterstützungsleistungen untersucht. Es werden politische Maßnahmen vorgestellt, die in den Mitgliedstaaten der EU zur Unterstützung älterer Menschen in allen vorgenannten Bereichen durchgeführt wurden.

The first overview of minimum wage setting for 2022 shows that, while some negotiations are still ongoing, virtually all EU Member States have increased their nominal statutory rates. Compared to last year, when most countries settled for cautious increases against a background of deep uncertainty caused by the pandemic, growth in statutory rates for 2022 was stronger, reflecting an easing of the situation. This was especially the case in central and eastern European countries, where some increases were in double digits. Nevertheless, inflation is back in the picture and should be monitored in the coming months to get an insight into how the increases in nominal minimum wage rates translate into actual changes in the purchasing power of minimum wage earners.

Die Prioritäten von Eurofound für den Zeitraum 2021–2024 werden von den zentralen Herausforderungen für den sozialen Zusammenhalt und für gerechte Übergänge in einem sich wandelnden Umfeld nach der COVID-19-Krise bestimmt. Dieses Arbeitsprogramm bezieht sich auf ein Europa nach der COVID-19-Krise. Die Unsicherheit, die die vergangenen zwei Jahre geprägt hat, wirft weiterhin ihren Schatten voraus und wird die Art und Weise, wie wir leben und arbeiten, umfassend und wahrscheinlich langfristig verändern.

The European Union Agencies Network on Scientific Advice (EU-ANSA) consists of technical and regulatory agencies that provide scientific advice to EU policymakers. This report demonstrates how EU-ANSA member Agencies are addressing the socioeconomic effects of sustainable development. It is based on two surveys conducted among the member Agencies. The survey results show that the most researched areas include the economy, employment, skills and training, gender inequalities, health and safety, social aspects, the role of regulation and social dialogue.