Publications

The French Christian Workers' Confederation (CFTC) held its 47th convention
in November 1999, following a period in which disagreements had split its
governing bodies. Alain Deleu was re-elected as president for a third term.

November 1999 saw further demonstrations by managerial and professional staff
in France, seeking amendments to the bill on the second law on the 35-hour
working week, so as to bring a real reduction in working hours for all such
employees.

When the second law on the 35-hour working week was submitted to the National
Assembly in early October 1999 (FR9910197N [1]), Martine Aubry, the Minister
for Employment and Solidarity, had proposed that part of the funding of
financial assistance to companies signing agreements on working time
reduction - in the form of cuts in employers' social security contributions -
be borne by the UNEDIC unemployment insurance fund and the social security
budget (FR9910112F [2]). The Minister justified this funding formula on the
grounds that it would offset the financial gains for the unemployment
insurance and social security system linked to the new jobs to be created by
the 35-hour week.

[1] www.eurofound.europa.eu/ef/observatories/eurwork/articles/national-assembly-passes-35-hour-week-bill
[2] www.eurofound.europa.eu/ef/observatories/eurwork/articles/undefined/social-partners-oppose-proposed-funding-of-35-hour-week

GDP growth was 3.2% over the first three quarters of 1999, representing a
continuing slow-down after the annual figures of 5% in 1998 and 6.3% in 1997,
which was the peak year of the recovery experienced after the recession of
the early 1990s, when growth was zero or in minus figures between 1990 and
1993. Gross debt was 46.6% of GDP in 1999, down from 49.7% in 1998 and 55% in
1997, continuing a steady decline since 1994. The public accounts showed a
positive balance of 3.1% of GDP in 1999, up from 1.3% in 1998 and a deficit
of 1.5% in 1997 (a deficit was recorded throughout the 1990s until 1997).

A "working life barometer" (työolobarometri) for the Baltic states,
commissioned by the Finnish Ministry of Labour, was published in November
1999 ("Working life barometer in Baltic countries", Juha Antila and Pekka
Ylöstalo, Studies in Labour Policy 214, Ministry of Labour, Helsinki, 1999).
The aim of the study is to monitor changes in working life and assess the
trends of change in the near future in Estonia, Lithuania and Latvia. The
barometer forms part of Finland's cooperation with its neighbouring states.
The quantitative research consisted of structured face-to-face interview,
carried out at the respondents' homes, with over 900 working wage earners and
entrepreneurs in each of the three countries. The research material was
collected between October and December 1998.

According to figures issued by Statistics Finland in November 1999, the
number of working days lost due to strikes during the first six months of the
year fell dramatically compared with the corresponding period in 1998.
However, the sectoral bargaining round in early 2000 is likely to see a
increase in industrial action.

TheEuropean Commission issued an anti-discrimination package of measures on
25 November 1999 (EU9912216N [1]), following some weeks of speculation. The
package consists of four elements:

[1] www.eurofound.europa.eu/ef/observatories/eurwork/articles/commission-issues-anti-discrimination-proposals

1999 was characterised by a number of important developments which will have
a significant impact on both the economic and political functioning of the
European Union. The most far-reaching economic event of 1999 was the
successful launch, on 1 January 1999, of the third stage of Economic and
Monetary Union (EMU) and the European single currency, the euro. The single
currency covers 11 of the 15 EU Member States (the excluded countries are the
Denmark,Greece, Sweden and the UK). The launch went smoothly and although the
euro fell somewhat in value against other currencies in the year following
its launch, the currency is stable, The value of one euro was USD 1.0094, GBP
0.618 and JPY 105.81 on 17 January 2000. The next important date in the
single European currency calendar is 1 January 2002, when the process of
introducing euro notes and coins will begin, to be completed by 1 July 2002.

TheEuropean Commission issued an anti-discrimination package of measures on
25 November 1999 (EU9912216N [1]), following some weeks of speculation. The
package consists of four elements:

[1] www.eurofound.europa.eu/ef/observatories/eurwork/articles/commission-issues-anti-discrimination-proposals

The World Trade Organisation (WTO) ministerial conference [1] brought
together delegates from 135 countries in Seattle on 30 November to 3 December
1999 in order to debate ways in which world trade could be further
liberalised, within the framework of a planned "millennium round" of talks.

[1] http://www.wto.org/wto/seattle/mindex_e.htm