Outsourcing (or contracting out) may be defined as the delegation of non-core operations or jobs from internal production to an external entity (such as a subcontractor) that specialises in that operation. Outsourcing can be used for a variety of reasons: to save money, improve quality, or free up company resources for other activities.

Outsourcing should be distinguished from offshoring. While offshoring describes the relocation of production processes or services from one country to another, outsourcing is the movement of internal business processes to an external company. Outsourcing occurs when some economic activity ceases to be performed within the company and is instead purchased from another company. The key issue is whether the company obtains intermediary goods or services through hierarchical control within a single organisation or through the market.

A new agreement on overtime pay, a warning about the power balance between employers and employees, an increase in wages and a workforce deficit are the main topics of interest in this article. This country update reports on the latest developments in working life in Latvia in the second quarter of 2018.

The efforts of trade unions to prevent the adoption of tax and pensions reforms, and new collective agreements in the social services and healthcare sectors are the main topics of interest in this article. This country update reports on the latest developments in working life in Lithuania in the second quarter of 2018.

Legislation to reduce the gender pay gap and increase parental leave, the fourth annual National Economic Dialogue, a huge legal payout to hospital consultants, and high-profile disputes at Lloyds Pharmacy and Ryanair are the main topics of interest in this article. This country update reports on the latest developments in working life in Ireland in the second quarter of 2018.