Corral Alza, Antonio

This report aims to investigate the development and implementation of innovative measures designed to foster gender equality in the transport sector. To this end, the report outlines and analyses eight innovative measures that have been taken by national trade unions or other social partner groups in seven countries: Croatia, France, Hungary, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain and the United Kingdom (UK). The common characteristic uniting all of these measures is their central objective of improving gender equality at the workplace in a number of transport subsectors.

The First of May Foundation (La Fundación Primero de Mayo [1]) of the Trade Union Confederation of Workers’ Commissions (Confederación Sindical de Comisiones Obreras, CC.OO [2]) recently published several papers from a seminar organised in June 2006 on ‘Immigration, migration policies and trade unions (in Spanish, 400Kb PDF) [3]’. Within this document, it is worth highlighting a report by Joaquín Arango on ‘Immigration in Spain: The full picture’ (p. 23 of file). [1] http://www.1mayo.ccoo.es/ [2] http://www.ccoo.es [3] http://www.1mayo.ccoo.es/rrlle/pdfs/doc0602.pdf

The Spanish National Institute of Statistics (Instituto Nacional de Estadística, INE [1]) recently published the provisional results from the latest Annual wage structure survey 2004 (in Spanish) [2] (/Encuesta Anual de Estructura Salarial 2004/). This survey included information on salary levels as well as information on the differences according to sex, age, sector, occupation and type of contract. The survey comprised data from the files of the Spanish Social Security Agency (Agencia Nacional de la Seguridad Social, ANSS), the Quarterly survey on labour costs and the tax authorities. It shows significant progress in the availability of data on this subject, since surveys on wage structure used to be established only every four years; the last one refers to 2002. [1] http://www.ine.es/en/welcome_en.htm [2] http://www.ine.es/inebase/cgi/um?M=/t22/p133&O=inebase&N=&L=0

In May 2006, the Spanish Institute for Youth (Instituto de la Juventud, Injuve [1]) published a report entitled Youth and employment (in Spanish, 133Kb PDF) [2]. The study examines the current employment situation of young people in Spain, and is divided into four sections, each section addressing a major issue relating to employment. Section one identifies the main occupations of Spanish young people, section two provides information on their first job experiences, section three analyses their job search strategies, and the last section provides a general assessment of the Spanish labour market from the perspective of young people. [1] http://www.injuve.mtas.es/injuve/portal.portal.action [2] http://www.injuve.mtas.es/injuve/contenidos.downloadatt.action?id=1470258815

In 2005, the Ministry of Public Administration (Ministerio de Administraciones Públicas, MAP [1]), in conjunction with Fundación Independiente [2] and the International Centre of Work and Family of the IESE Business School at the University of Navarra, published a ‘White Paper on working time structure in Spain’. This paper outlines some of the characteristics of the Spanish working time structure and its negative effects on work–life balance. It also argues that Spain’s working hours should be aligned with those prevailing in other European countries, in order to increase productivity. In addition, the document suggests a number of recommendations aimed at resolving this imbalance. [1] http://www.map.es/ [2] http://www.fundacionindependiente.es

Company restructuring has become a constant feature of the economic landscape of the European Union, driven by market changes, increased competition and globalisation. One way of minimising the negative social effects of restructuring is to encourage people affected by restructuring to set up their own business. This report examines the critical elements that positively and negatively affect business creation and entrepreneurship following company restructuring in Europe. It looks at different strategies developed by public and private actors to foster business creation. It presents case studies from six countries of successful examples of company restructuring, outlining in detail the experiences of business creation and development following the restructuring process.

Spanish workers’ reported satisfaction with their work has been steadily increasing since 1999, according to the 2004 Spanish survey on quality of life in the workplace. Workers declare their satisfaction with health and safety conditions at work, work organisation and relationships with colleagues, while pay and participation issues are less satisfying. The survey also reveals that considerable differences remain between the sexes in carrying out household chores and in caring activities with children and older people.

An extensive report on the ‘ Regulations governing self-employed people (1Mb pdf; in Spanish) [1]’ was presented during October 2005. The report, commissioned by the Spanish Ministry of Employment and Social Affairs (in Spanish) [2] and prepared by a group of experts, has two aims. Firstly, it assesses and evaluates the economic and social situation of Spanish self-employed people. Secondly, it analyses the current legal and social protection framework regarding self-employment and includes a number of proposals for a new law on self-employment, which, after discussion with relevant parties, will be passed next year. [1] http://www.tt.mtas.es/periodico/laboral/200510/est_autonomo.pdf [2] http://www.mtas.es/

In March 2005, the Instituto de la Mujer [1] (Women’s Institute), a subsidiary body of the Spanish Ministry of Employment and Social Affairs (in Spanish) [2], published a study on the Presence of women in irregular employment (2.9Mb pdf; in Spanish) [3]. The study was carried out within the framework of the Observatory for Equal Opportunities among Men and Women (25Kb pdf; in Spanish) [4]. The report provides an initial estimate of the number of women who are working under irregular conditions in Spain (i.e. not affiliated to the compulsory National Social Security System). In addition, the report tries to identify the main socio-economic characteristics of these women, compared with their counterparts working within the social security system. [1] http://www.mtas.es/mujer/ [2] http://www.mtas.es/ [3] http://www.mtas.es/mujer/mujeres/estud_inves/estudio irregular.pdf [4] http://www.boe.es/boe/dias/2000-10-19/pdfs/A35746-35748.pdf

Spanish workers’ reported satisfaction with their work has been steadily increasing since 1999. According to the 2004 Spanish survey on quality of life in the workplace, workers declare that they are particularly satisfied with health and safety conditions at work, work organisation and relationships with colleagues. Other issues such as pay and participation issues are not regarded in such a favourable light. The survey also reveals that considerable differences remain between the sexes in carrying out household chores and in caring activities with children and older people.