Megatrends, such as digitalisation, globalisation, demographic change and climate change, are transforming the world of work, with knock-on effects for working conditions and job quality. Against this background, this report examines workin...
This report examines the upward and downward trends in job quality across the EU from 1995 to 2010. The improvement and harmonisation of working conditions are core objectives of the European Union, but many factors affect job quality.
Negotiations on employment conditions are generally difficult in a sector
which covers mainly health, social and cultural work, combining public and
private-not-for-profit institutions, organisations and social enterprises. To
obtain a better bargaining position takes heavier lobbying and, indeed,
strikes and protests. Employees and unions have been lobbying for more than a
year for a new agreement with their ‘white rage’ campaign [1]. The strike
of 6 June 2011 coincided with the fifth white rage protest in four months.
The strongest demands were for a reduction of workload and a rise in wages.
[1] http://www.wittewoede.be