Developments in working life in Europe - Q3 2018

What has taken place during the 3rd quarter of 2018 in the industrial relations and working conditions landscape in European countries? Look no further – get up-to-date information as reported by our Network of Eurofound Correspondents who, on a quarterly basis, keep us abreast of the latest developments in those fields of observation. What industrial actions took place in Belgium and Latvia? What recommendations on occupational health services have been made in Norway? What is the purpose of the ‘dignity decree’ voted in Italy? How is Germany tackling labour shortages? Read these updates and more in the following areas:

• Bulgaria: Trade unions sign new cooperation agreement
• Croatia: New decision on the representativeness of high-level trade unions
• Finland: New National Conciliator takes up office
• Greece: SVVE recognised as new social partner
• Lithuania: Solidarumas lays out its future plans
• Poland: Latest legislative developments: extension of the rights of the Social Dialogue Council; amendment of the Trade Unions Act
• Romania: Greater access to EU funds for employer organisations
• Slovakia: Changes in tripartite social dialogue actors
• Slovakia: Modern Trade Unions expands its operation
• Slovenia: Social partners have high expectations for the new coalition agreement
• Sweden: Outcome of Swedish general election still unclear
• United Kingdom: Social partners state positions on Brexit negotiations

Collective bargaining

• Austria: Metalworking unions kick-start collective bargaining
• Cyprus: Substantive dialogue agreement reached in the education sector
• Finland: General applicability principle questioned
• Greece: Sectoral collective bargaining receives a boost
• Ireland: Agreements and recommendations to benefit public service workers
• Italy: Takeover of ILVA steel plants finalised
• Latvia: General agreement in construction sector
• Luxembourg: Sector-level bargaining brings mixed results
• Spain: Social dialogue gains momentum under new government and delivers the Plan for Decent Work

Industrial action

• Belgium: Civil servants strike over changes to benefits
• Belgium: Travellers pay the price for Ryanair dispute
• Belgium: Strike over Government’s pension policy
• Croatia: Strikes in Croatia Airlines and Uljanik
• Cyprus: Waste collectors strike for 48 hours
• Hungary: Conflict around public sector layoffs
• Ireland: Ryanair dispute with pilots ends with agreement
• Latvia: Reshuffle of emergency medical services put on hold
• Latvia: Bus drivers and health sector workers take industrial action
• Lithuania: Prison officers and cultural workers call for better conditions
• Netherlands: A summer of strikes: public transport, postal services, primary schools, police and pilots
• Poland: Discontent in the public sector escalates over pay
• Poland: Growing tensions in social dialogue over wages
• Romania: Trade union protests in youth, sport and transport
• United Kingdom: Workers stage walkouts over pay

Health and wellbeing at work

• Cyprus: Workplace accidents soar by 27%
• Denmark: Expert committee publishes White Paper on working environment
• Estonia: Occupational accidents insurance system takes shape
• Norway: Recommendations for the future of occupational health services
• Norway: Combating work-related crime in the construction industry
• Slovenia: High stress levels leading to mental health problems among young people
• Spain: Trade unions alert about increase in occupational deaths

Individual employment relations

• Estonia: New labour law reflects modern work situations
• Finland: Tensions between the social partners intensify over fixed-term contracts justification and reform on dismissal protection
• Greece: Fighting the exploitation of undeclared workers
• Italy: ‘Dignity decree’ reshapes temporary employment
• Italy: New compensation rules for unlawful dismissal

Labour market

• Czech Republic: Labour market overheating due to worker shortages
• France: Labour market reforms to increase professional freedom
• Germany: New government to tackle labour market weaknesses
• Germany: Reducing barriers for skilled migrant workers
• Hungary: Severe personnel shortage in public healthcare
• Netherlands: Growing economy not reflected in jobs for people with disabilities
• Norway: Public procurement guide seeks to improve pay and working conditions
• Portugal: Parliament starts discussions on labour law reform
• Romania: Romania ranks No. 2 for staff shortages

Pay and income

• Bulgaria: Public sector workers to receive 10% pay increase
• Bulgaria: State aid to combat rising living costs
• Hungary: Discontent at changes to tax allowances and exemptions
• Latvia: Teachers hold government to its promise to increase monthly wages after a wave of protests
• Slovakia: Increase in the subsistence minimum
• Slovenia: New government to prioritise wage policy

Statutory minimum wages

• Czech Republic: Social partners in dispute over minimum wage increase
• Estonia: Statutory minimum wage increase agreed for 2019
• Greece: National minimum wage fast-tracked
• Ireland: Low Pay Commission backs national minimum wage increase
• Lithuania: Government sets minimum wage after social partner impasse
• Luxembourg: Minimum income reform focuses on social inclusion

Social protection and reforms

• Austria: Social security reform has far-reaching implications
• France: Unemployment insurance reforms draw mixed reactions
• Germany: Support for unemployed people and new mothers
• Greece: Contracted and subcontracted employees receive protection
• Latvia: Upcoming parliamentary elections bring changes: annual pension indexation; benefits for parents; parental leave and change in election of the President
• Romania: Government compensates agricultural workers

Pension reforms

• Belgium: Negotiations over pension benefits for arduous work in private and public sector
• Croatia: Trade unions resist planned pension reform
• France: Government unveils occupational health and pensions reforms
• Romania: Trade unions object to proposed pension changes
• Spain: Agreement on Pension Revaluation

Working time and work-life balance

• Austria: New working time law dominates social dialogue
• Czech Republic: Mixed attitudes to shorter working hours
• Denmark: New law makes it easier for employees to take holidays
• Malta: Social partners clash over holiday rules
• Netherlands: Partners of new mothers to receive more parental leave
• Romania: Holiday vouchers boost domestic tourism
• Sweden: Swedish firefighters contend with raging forest fires

Equality

• Malta: Companies to be held to account over lack of employees with disabilities
• Portugal: New measures approved on right to equal pay
• United Kingdom: Parliament recommends extension of gender pay gap reporting requirements