Working life research

Christine Aumayr-Pintar

Senior research manager

Christine Aumayr-Pintar hija maniġer anzjan tar-riċerka fl-unità tal-Ħajja tax-Xogħol fil-Eurofound. Hija tikkoordina r-riċerka tal-Eurofound dwar id-djalogu soċjali u r-relazzjonijiet industrijali u tissorvelja n-Netwerk tal-Korrispondenti tal-Eurofound (NEC). L-għarfien espert primarju tagħha fir-riċerka – avviċinat minn perspettiva komparattiva madwar l-UE – jiffoka fuq il-pagi minimi, il-paga nnegozjata b'mod kollettiv u t-trasparenza tal-pagi bejn is-sessi. Qabel ma ngħaqdet mal-Eurofound fl-2009, hija kienet riċerkatriċi tas-swieq tax-xogħol u tal-ekonomija reġjonali f'Joanneum Research fl-Awstrija. Hija kisbet Master's degree fl-Ekonomija u PhD fix-Xjenza Soċjali/Ekonomija wara li studjat l-ekonomija fi Graz, Vjenna u Jönköping.

Suġġetti ta' għarfien espert

Christine huwa espert fis-suġġetti li ġejjin.

Riżultati tar-riċerka

Christine huwa l-awtur tal-pubblikazzjonijiet li ġejjin.

Avvenimenti, kummentarju u analiżi

Christine ikkontribwixxa għall-avvenimenti, l-analiżi tal-blog u l-episodji tal-podcasts li ġejjin.

10 January 2024

Episodju tal-podcast

Are minimum wages in Europe adequate and effective?

The latest episode of Eurofound Talks, recorded shortly before Eurofound publishes its harmonised analysis of 2024 minimum wage developments, looks at the changes to minimum wages in 2023. Mary McCaughey speaks with Eurofound experts Christine Aumayr-Pintar and Carlos Vacas-Soriano about the adequacy of minimum wages in Europe as they stand at the moment, how the EU has sought to improve the situation of low-wage earners through a Directive on adequate minimum wages, and how widespread the issue of minimum wage non-compliance is in the European Union.

15 June 2022

Analiżi tal-blog

How to ensure adequate minimum wages in an age of inflation

Minimum wages have risen significantly in 2022, as the EU Member States leave behind the cautious mood of the pandemic. However, rising inflation is eating up these wage increases, and only flexibility in the regular minimum wage setting processes may avoid generalised losses in purchasing power among minimum wage earners. On 6 June 2022, the Council of the EU and the European Parliament reached a political agreement on the Directive on adequate minimum wages proposed by the Commission in October 2020. Once formally approved, EU Member States will have to transpose it into national law within two years.

9 June 2022

Episodju tal-podcast

Minimum wages

Minimum wages and minimum wage setting processes are not just issues of high political importance in Europe, but also everyday concerns for low-wage earners throughout the EU. In this episode of Eurofound Talks we speak with Senior Research Manager Christine Aumayr-Pintar on the importance of minimum wages in the EU, different processes in place, the latest EU developments in ensuring adequate minimum wages, and the growing issue of inflation for low-wage earners.

18 June 2021

Analiżi tal-blog

Gender pay transparency: Advancing the cause through a truly European proposal

With its proposed directive on gender pay transparency, the European Commission has significantly bolstered the set of tools for delivering its objectives compared to those presented in its 2014 Recommendation. The proposed portfolio of measures addresses many shortcomings of the instruments that national authorities currently employ. And while some issues will still require clarification, further reflection or debate during the negotiations, the proposal is a truly European one: it draws on good practice from the policies of different countries rather than taking the approach of just one as a blueprint.

8 June 2021

Analiżi tal-blog

Minimum wages rise again, but the pandemic puts a brake on their growth

Decision-makers approached minimum wage setting for 2021 cautiously due to the economic uncertainty caused by the pandemic. Despite this, nominal statutory minimum wages rose in most Member States and the UK, although at lower rates than in recent years.

6 November 2020

Analiżi tal-blog

Are simple statistics enough? On the benefits of gender pay reports and audits

Following a sluggish response by many Member States to introduce or modify gender pay transparency measures, as it recommended in 2014, the European Commission intends to table a proposal for EU-level legislation on pay transparency later in 2020. In this context, a new Eurofound study investigated whether key people at company level see these measures as useful or beneficial. The results show that the richer pay audits are favoured over the simpler pay reports in terms of their perceived usefulness. Both managers and employee representatives agree on this.

28 October 2020

Analiżi tal-blog

New impetus to collective bargaining: Insights from the ECS

In the context of the ongoing trend of a fall in collective bargaining coverage, and recent calls at EU level to promote collective bargaining coverage as an instrument to support fair and decent wages, new data from Eurofound’s fourth European Company Survey (ECS) show that two-thirds of workers (in private sector establishments with more than 10 employees in the EU) are estimated to have their wages set via a collective wage agreement.

15 January 2020

Analiżi tal-blog

Fears and hopes around future minimum wages

As one of their ‘100 days in office’ initiatives, the new European Commission intends to propose an initiative for an EU minimum wage. The aim is that by 2024 every worker in the EU should earn a fair and adequate wage, no matter where they live.

17 April 2019

Analiżi tal-blog

Seniority entitlements: A policy of the past, or a fix for the future?

Seniority entitlements have largely been on the decline since the 1990s, and have been gradually phased-out from legislation in Europe, as well as in collective agreements. However, it would be premature to dismiss seniority-based entitlements as a thing of the past, as they remain in force across Europe, even if the more expansive term of ‘relevant experience’ is preferred. As we look to the future, we ask whether seniority-based entitlements have a renewed role in a European labour market challenged by demographic ageing and a need to keep people working for longer, or whether they are a relic of the past that contribute to inter-generational inequity, under-performance, and lower employment prospects of older workers.

4 February 2019

Analiżi tal-blog

Slow start for gender pay transparency in Germany

One year after Germany’s introduction of the Entgelttransparenzgesetz (Wage Transparency Act), the results are somewhat underwhelming. This law is Germany’s take on the European Commission’s recommendation on introducing pay transparency measures to combat the gender pay gap.

11 October 2018

Analiżi tal-blog

Progress in paternity and parental leave for fathers – Are baby steps enough?

Few events challenge the equilibrium between work and life like the arrival of a child. As gender roles continue to change in Europe, supporting the uptake of paternity and parental leave among fathers is fundamental, not just to close the ‘caring gap’ between men and women, but also to provide the best possible outlook for coming generations.

28 February 2018

Analiżi tal-blog

Ten points about pay transparency in Europe’s companies

Measures to promote gender pay transparency haven’t been delivered yet in half of Europe – making EU level legislative action to speed up implementation an option. In this blog, originally posted in Social Europe, Christine Aumayr-Pintar details what we know about the measures from countries that have been early adopters.

3 November 2017

Analiżi tal-blog

Pay inequalities come back into focus in post-crisis Europe

The ability to make ends meet is a vital issue for many Europeans and an important priority for European policymakers. In the immediate aftermath of the 2008 economic crisis the initial focus was to mitigate and reverse job loss, particularly in the countries most affected. With employment back to pre-crisis levels and unemployment on the decline, attention is turning to income inequality, and in particular pay inequality; an issue with ramifications beyond the labour market, and one which may well prove as intractable as the issue of unemployment in the previous decade.

Other members of the Working life research unit

Find more staff members of the Working life research unit below.

Felix Appler

Research support officer
Working life research

Felix Appler huwa uffiċjal ta' appoġġ għar-riċerka fl-unità tal-Ħajja tax-Xogħol fil-Eurofound. Ix-xogħol tiegħu jiffoka fuq ir-relazzjonijiet industrijali, il-pagi minimi u l-bini ta' databases assoċjati ma' dawn is-suġġetti. Preċedentement, huwa ħadem fl-Uffiċċju Federali tal-Istatistika tal-Ġermanja (Destatis) u l-Bank Dinji fl-Afrika tal-Lvant biex iwettaq stħarriġ tal-familji u riċerka dwar is-swieq tax-xogħol u l-faqar. Felix għandu Master's degree fl-Ekonomija mill-Università ta' Bonn.

Angelina Atanasova

Research support officer
Working life research

Angelina Atanasova hija uffiċjal ta' appoġġ għar-riċerka fl-unità tal-Ħajja tax-Xogħol fil-Eurofound. Is-suġġetti attwali tar-riċerka tagħha jinkludu d-djalogu soċjali u r-relazzjonijiet industrijali, kif ukoll id-drittijiet tad-diżabilità. Qabel ma ngħaqdet mal-Eurofound fl-2024, hija ħadmet bħala analista anzjana tal-politika fil-Fond għar-Riċerka u l-Komunikazzjoni Applikata, riċerkatriċi fl-Osservatorju Soċjali Ewropew, assoċjata fir-riċerka f'KU Leuven, u konsulent tal-politika fl-Istitut tal-Politika Ewropea tas-Soċjetà Miftuħa. Hija għandha PhD fil-Liġi tal-UE mill-KU Leuven u MA fil-Politika Pubblika mill-Università tal-Ewropa Ċentrali. L-oqsma ewlenin ta' interess tar-riċerka tagħha jinkludu d-drittijiet tad-diżabilità, l-ugwaljanza bejn is-sessi u l-inklużjoni soċjali.

Elena Biaggi

Temporary research support officer
Working life research

Elena Biaggi is a temporary research support officer in the Working Life unit at Eurofound. Having completed a traineeship at Eurofound working on digitalisation in SMEs, her current role focuses on working time reduction. Her main research interests include digitalisation and work, how the world of work is changing and how this change impacts working conditions and job quality. Elena has a Master’s degree in Global Politics and Society from the University of Milan.

Jorge Cabrita

Senior research manager
Working life research

Jorge Cabrita is a senior research manager in the Working Life unit. He is responsible for formulating, coordinating and managing European-wide research, and promoting the dissemination of findings in the areas of working conditions and industrial relations. His main research areas of interest include working conditions and job quality, working time and work–life balance, workers’ health and well-being, gender equality and the socioeconomic impacts of the transition to a climate-neutral economy. He is currently leading research on working time developments and on social dialogue and collective bargaining during the COVID-19 pandemic. Previously, he worked as a researcher at the Centre for Studies for Social Intervention and at the Research Centre on the Portuguese Economy of the Lisbon School of Economics, and as a trainer and consultant in the areas of strategic management, organisational communication, leadership and team building. He holds a BSc in Economics and an MSc in Socio-Organisational Systems of Economic Activity from the Lisbon School of Economics.

Daphné Chédorge-Farnier

Temporary research support officer
Working life research

Daphné Chédorge-Farnier is a temporary research support officer in the Working Life unit at Eurofound. She contributes to the preparation of the follow-up survey to the European Working Conditions Survey 2024 and is involved in research on working time reduction. Prior to this, she worked as a survey trainee in the Social Policies unit. Before joining Eurofound, Daphné worked as a research officer specialising in working conditions and social policy at the Direction générale de l'administration de la fonction publique (DGAFP) in Paris. She holds a Master’s degree in Sociology from Sorbonne University.

Victoria Cojocariu

Research officer
Working life research

Victoria Cojocariu hija uffiċjal tar-riċerka għall-istudji tar-rappreżentanza fl-unità tal-Ħajja tax-Xogħol fil-Eurofound. Hija responsabbli għall-ġestjoni tal-kontribut tar-riċerka mill-korrispondenti nazzjonali tal-Eurofound, il-kontroll tal-kwalità, kif ukoll għall-kontribut għat-tfassil ta' rapporti ta' ħarsa ġenerali għall-istudji dwar ir-rappreżentanza settorjali u l-bini tad-dejta għall-Bażi tad-Data tal-Imsieħba Soċjali Ewropej. Qabel ma ngħaqdet mal-Eurofound fl-2019, Victoria ħadmet bħala koordinatur tal-programm għall-Fondazzjoni tas-Soċjetà Miftuħa fir-Rumanija u bħala riċerkatriċi għaċ-Ċentru għall-Innovazzjoni Pubblika f'Bukarest, u kkontribwixxiet għal proġetti ta' riċerka nazzjonali u internazzjonali fil-qasam tal-migrazzjoni, l-edukazzjoni, l-aċċess għas-suq tax-xogħol ta' ċittadini ta' pajjiżi terzi, kif ukoll id-drittijiet tal-bniedem. Hija għandha lawrji BA u MA fis-Soċjoloġija.

Franz Ferdinand Eiffe

Research manager
Working life research

Franz Eiffe huwa maniġer tar-riċerka fl-unità tal-Ħajja tax-Xogħol fil-Eurofound. Huwa involut fi proġetti dwar ix-xogħol sostenibbli, l-analiżi kwantitattiva u l-konverġenza 'l fuq fl-UE, kif ukoll fit-tħejjija tar-raba' Stħarriġ Ewropew dwar il-Kumpaniji. Qabel ma ngħaqad mal-Eurofound fl-2016, kien Kap tal-Unità 'Analiżi' fl-Istatistika tal-Awstrija fi Vjenna u mexxej tal-proġett ta' "Kif inhi l-Awstrija? Il-kejl tal-ġid u l-progress lil hinn mill-PDG". Huwa għandu PhD fl-Ekonomija mill-Università tal-Ekonomija ta' Vjenna (WU), fejn ħadem ukoll bħala riċerkatur assoċjat mill-2005 sal-2009 u lettur sal-2016.

Barbara Gerstenberger

​Head of Unit
Working life research

Barbara Gerstenberger hija l-Kap tal-unità tal-Ħajja tax-Xogħol fil-Eurofound. F'dan ir-rwol, hija tikkoordina t-timijiet ta' riċerka li jinvestigaw il-kwalità tal-impjiegi fl-Ewropa abbażi tal-Istħarriġ Ewropew dwar il-Kundizzjonijiet tax-Xogħol u għandha r-responsabbiltà ġenerali għall-Osservatorju Ewropew tal-Ħajja tax-Xogħol u r-riċerka dwar ir-relazzjonijiet industrijali fl-UE. Hija ngħaqdet mal-Eurofound fl-2001 bħala maniġer tar-riċerka fiċ-Ċentru Ewropew għall-Monitoraġġ tal-Bidla (EMCC) li dak iż-żmien kien għadu kif ġie stabbilit. Fl-2007, hija marret fl-unità tal-Informazzjoni u l-Komunikazzjoni tal-Eurofound bħala Kap tal-Prodotti tal-Komunikazzjoni, qabel ma nħatret Koordinatur fid-Direttorat fl-2011. Preċedentement, hija ħadmet bħala uffiċjal anzjan tar-riċerka fil-Federazzjoni Ewropea tal-Ħaddiema tal-Metall fi Brussell. A graduate in political science from Hamburg University, she completed a Master's degree in Public Administration at the Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University.

Manuel Gómez Martín

Administrative assistant
Working life research

Manuel Gómez Martín huwa assistent amministrattiv fit-taqsima tal-Ħajja tax-Xogħol. Huwa prinċipalment involut fil-qasam tar-relazzjonijiet industrijali, u speċifikament jorganizza l-akkwist u l-laqgħat fi ħdan proġetti relatati. Preċedentement ħadem mad-DĠ JRC fil-Kummissjoni Ewropea u għal kumpaniji privati f'Londra u Spanja.

Peter Kerckhofs

Senior research manager
Working life research

Peter Kerckhofs huwa maniġer anzjan tar-riċerka fl-unità tal-Ħajja tax-Xogħol fil-Eurofound. Ix-xogħol tiegħu jiffoka fuq ir-rwol tal-imsieħba soċjali fis-Semestru Ewropew u wkoll fuq ir-rappurtar nazzjonali dwar l-iżviluppi fir-relazzjonijiet industrijali. Peter għandu għarfien espert wiesa' fl-iżvilupp tal-metodoloġija għall-istudji tar-rappreżentanza, l-applikazzjoni ta' kriterji ta' rappreżentanza Ewropej u nazzjonali fil-kuntest speċifiku ta' setturi differenti, filwaqt li akkumula wkoll għarfien fil-fond tax-xenarju tar-relazzjonijiet industrijali f'diversi setturi. Peter ħadem ukoll fuq proġetti relatati mal-Kunsilli tax-Xogħlijiet Ewropej u d-Djalogu Soċjali Settorjali Ewropew. Qabel ma ngħaqad mal-Eurofound, huwa ħadem bħala riċerkatur għall-ETUI u l-UCL, bħala segretarju politiku għall-EMCEF u kien koordinatur xjentifiku tal-Iskola tal-PhD tal-fakultà tax-xjenzi soċjali tal-KU Leuven. Huwa għandu grad ta 'Baċellerat fil-Ħidma Soċjali u grad ta' Masters fix-Xjenza Politika minn KU Leuven u wieħed fir-Relazzjonijiet Internazzjonali mill-UCL, u għandu PhD fir-Relazzjonijiet Industrijali mill-Università ta 'Manchester.

Sophia MacGoris

Surveys officer
Working life research

Sophia MacGoris hija uffiċjal tal-istħarriġ ibbażat fl-unità tal-Ħajja tax-Xogħol fil-Eurofound. Hija taħdem fuq it-tliet stħarriġ tal-Eurofound. Wara li ilha involuta fi stħarriġ transnazzjonali għal bosta snin, hija tuża l-esperjenza tagħha u r-rwol trasversali tagħha biex tiżgura kontinwità tat-tagħlim u l-assigurazzjoni tal-kwalità sal-ogħla livell matul il-proċess kollu tal-istħarriġ. Qabel ma ngħaqdet mal-Eurofound fl-1996, hija ħadmet għal bosta snin fil-Kummissjoni Ewropea fi Brussell fil-qasam tax-xjenza, ir-riċerka u l-iżvilupp. Hija għandha BSc (Hons) fix-Xjenza Soċjali li tispeċjalizza fil-Politika Soċjali.

Inès Maillart

Research support officer
Working life research

Inès Maillart hija uffiċjal ta' appoġġ għar-riċerka fl-unità tal-Ħajja tax-Xogħol fil-Eurofound minn Awwissu 2025, wara li qabel ħadmet fl-Uffiċċju ta' Kollegament ta' Brussell.

Pietro Malacalza

Research assistant
Working life research

Pietro Malacalza huwa assistent tar-riċerka fl-unità tal-Ħajja tax-Xogħol fil-Eurofound, wara li qabel ħadem f'appoġġ operazzjonali. Ix-xogħol tiegħu jinvolvi appoġġ għan-Netwerk tal-Korrispondenti tal-Eurofound inkluż il-kontroll tal-kwalità, is-sommarju tal-kontribuzzjonijiet nazzjonali għar-rapporti ta' riċerka u l-bażijiet tad-dejta, il-monitoraġġ tar-riżultati individwali u l-kodifikazzjoni tal-informazzjoni f'softwer ta' riċerka kwalitattiva. Qabel ma ngħaqad mal-Eurofound, huwa ħadem bħala konsulent tal-ġestjoni tal-proġetti għaċ-Ċentru Konġunt tar-Riċerka tal-Kummissjoni Ewropea (JRC), u ħadem ukoll f'diversi rwoli fl-industriji tal-IT, aerospazjali u tal-ikel. Huwa għandu lawrja fix-Xjenza Politika mill-Università ta' Milan u ċertifikazzjoni ta' Project Management Professional (PMP).

Agnès Parent-Thirion

Senior research manager
Working life research

Agnès Parent-Thirion hija maniġer anzjan tar-riċerka fl-unità tal-Ħajja tax-Xogħol fil-Eurofound, inkarigata mill-ippjanar, l-iżvilupp u l-implimentazzjoni ta' proġetti ta' riċerka dwar il-kundizzjonijiet tax-xogħol, b'mod partikolari l-Istħarriġ Ewropew dwar il-Kundizzjonijiet tax-Xogħol (EWCS) u l-analiżi tiegħu. Hija responsabbli għall-edizzjoni straordinarja tal-EWCS 2021 u għat-tħejjija tal-kwestjonarju għall-EWCS 2024. L-interessi tar-riċerka tagħha jinkludu l-kundizzjonijiet tax-xogħol, il-kwalità tax-xogħol, il-monitoraġġ tal-kundizzjonijiet tax-xogħol, l-organizzazzjoni tax-xogħol, is-sess, il-futur tax-xogħol u l-ħin. Hija ilha taħdem fil-qasam tal-istħarriġ komparattiv Ewropew għal aktar minn għaxar snin, fl-aspetti kollha inklużi d-disinn, l-iżvilupp tal-kwestjonarju, ix-xogħol fuq il-post, il-kontroll tal-kwalità u l-analiżi. Hija gradwata fl-ekonomija u l-ġestjoni mill-universitajiet Paris IX Dauphine u Paris I Panthéon Sorbonne u għandha Diploma Postgraduate fl-Istatistika mit-Trinity College Dublin. Dan l-aħħar temmet korsijiet onlajn dwar l-intelliġenza artifiċjali: tmexxija mmexxija mill-inkjesta mal-MIT Sloan Executive Education u 'Les grand enjeux de la transition: re-ouvrir l'orizzont, comprendre pour agir' mal-Campus de la Transition. Qabel ma ngħaqdet mal-Eurofound, hija ħadmet għal numru ta' snin fil-Kummissjoni Ewropea.

Sara Riso

Senior research manager
Working life research

Sara Riso joined Eurofound in 2006 and is currently a senior research manager in the Working Life unit. She is engaged in research projects focusing on digitalisation and working conditions. Before joining Eurofound, Sara managed research projects for large Brussels-based European associations and networks. Her academic background is in psychology, communication and languages. Her main research interest lies in exploring new workplace stressors arising from increased digitalisation of work, evolving organisational practices, and change management strategies to address the challenges posed by digitalisation in modern working environments.

Mária Sedláková

Research officer
Working life research

Mária Sedláková hija uffiċjal tar-riċerka fl-unità tal-Ħajja tax-Xogħol fil-Eurofound. Hija responsabbli għall-abbozzar ta' rapporti ġenerali għall-istudji tar-rappreżentanza settorjali, il-ġestjoni u l-kontroll tal-kwalità tar-rappurtar nazzjonali dwar ir-relazzjonijiet industrijali, id-djalogu soċjali u l-ħajja tax-xogħol, u l-iżvilupp ta' proġett dwar in-negozjar kollettiv lil hinn mill-paga. Qabel ma ngħaqdet mal-Eurofound, hija ħadmet bħala uffiċjal tar-riċerka teknika fi ħdan id-Dipartiment tal-Governanza u t-Tripartiżmu fl-Organizzazzjoni Internazzjonali tax-Xogħol f'Ġinevra fuq ir-Rapport Ewlieni tad-Djalogu Soċjali 2022. Hija ħadmet ukoll bħala riċerkatriċi fl-Istitut tal-Istudji tax-Xogħol tal-Ewropa Ċentrali fi Bratislava (2013–2020), fejn tiffoka fuq id-djalogu soċjali, in-negozjar kollettiv, il-kundizzjonijiet tax-xogħol u s-soċjoloġija tax-xogħol. Maria għandha MA fix-Xjenza Politika bi speċjalizzazzjoni fil-Politika Ewropea Komparattiva mill-Università tal-Ewropa Ċentrali.

Oscar Vargas Llave

Senior research manager
Working life research

Oscar Vargas Llave is a senior research manager in the Working Life unit at Eurofound and manages projects on changes in the world of work and the impact on working conditions and related policies: organisation of working time, remote work, the right to disconnect, health and well-being and ageing. Before joining Eurofound in December 2009, he worked as project coordinator in the field of health and safety and was responsible for the Professional Card Scheme for the Construction Sector in Spain at the non-profit Fundación Laboral de la Construcción in Madrid. He has a background in industrial sociology (Universidad Pontificia de Salamanca), and also holds a Diploma in Social Science Research Methods from the University of Cardiff and a Master’s degree in Health and Safety from the Autonomous University of Madrid.

Tina Weber

Senior research manager
Working life research

Tina Weber is a senior research manager in Eurofound’s Working Life unit. Her work has focused on labour shortages, the impact of hybrid work and an ‘always on’ culture and the right to disconnect, working conditions and social protection measures for self-employed workers and the impact of the twin transitions on employment, working conditions and industrial relations. She is responsible for studies assessing the representativeness of European social partner organisations. She has also carried out research on European Works Councils and the evolution of industrial relations and social dialogue in the European Union. Prior to joining Eurofound in 2019, she worked for a private research institute primarily carrying out impact assessments and evaluations of EU labour law and labour market policies. Tina holds a PhD in Political Sciences from the University of Edinburgh which focussed on the role of national trade unions and employers’ organisations in the European social dialogue.

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