Labour Law — Nordic Labour Journal

Work-related crime must be fought with improved cooperation

(Sep 07, 2018) When crime occurs in organised ways, inspection authorities and the social partners also need to improve their cross-border cooperation. This was one of the messages when participants from the Nordics and Baltics met at an experts’ seminar in Stockholm recently.

Finland: Unions and the construction industry join forces to fight shadow economy

(Sep 07, 2018) Trade unions and employers have entered into an unusual collaboration to fight unfair competition and the shadow economy within the Finnish construction industry. A cross-border cooperation has also been important for work environment agencies in Finland and Estonia.

Labour migration to Denmark leads to fear of increased social dumping

(Sep 07, 2018) Denmark is a popular destination for jobseekers from other EU countries. Trade unions fear this could lead to increased social dumping and want more controls. Yet most foreigners are in jobs that are covered by Danish collective agreements, says one expert.

The Oslo model brings transparency to the construction sector

(Sep 07, 2018) The view is dizzying as one of the construction workers climb the steps at the top of the new Munch Museum which is being built in Oslo. The museum will be more than a shop window for Norwegian culture; the construction project is also meant to be a showcase for fair competition and working conditions in the construction industry.

Conditions for road transport workers splits Europe into east and west

(Sep 07, 2018) Truck drivers were sacrificed in order to reach an agreement when the changes to the directive on the posting of workers were passed early this summer.

Will platform companies fit into the Nordic model?

(Jun 22, 2018) Does the Uber driver have an employer? Is the ‘self-employed’ actually an employee? And what will the zero hours worker live from if he or she does not get to work enough hours?

Swedish social partners agree to limit right to industrial action

(Jun 22, 2018) Employers who have signed a collective agreement should be able to trust that the peace obligation still stands. So argue the Confederation of Swedish Enterprise and the trade union confederations LO, TCO and Saco.

Cooperating to stop a race to the bottom

(Apr 19, 2018) Not everything is perfect, but the Nordics are doing some good things, getting down to business, highlighting problems, considering the measures, wanting to learn from others without erasing political divides. This is also the case when discussing labour market inclusion, #metoo and work-related crime. Broad cooperation aims to make sure things point in the right direction.

Nordic politicians on their guard as the EU’s new labour authority takes shape

(Apr 17, 2018) The European Commission is moving at pace to make the European Pillar of Social Rights a reality. In March it presented what it called a ‘Social Fairness Package’, where it proposed that the EU should establish a European labour authority to make sure EU rules on issues including the posting of workers and the coordination of social security schemes are being followed.

Icelandic companies want to introduce equal pay standard ahead of time

(Apr 09, 2018) Icelandic companies are hard at work preparing to meet demands introduced in equal pay legislation presented at the start of the year. Several of them want to adapt the equal pay standard before the deadline. But the amount of work is greater than expected, and the first ones out must start from scratch.

Swedish social partners warn against EU directive on employment conditions

(Mar 01, 2018) Is the EU about to take over member states’ prerogative to regulate employment and working conditions? Yes, this is what may happen if the Commission’s proposal for a directive ‘for more transparent and predictable working conditions in the European Union’ is passed, warn both trade unions and employers in Sweden.

Ásmundur Einar Daðason: Time to overhaul the social safety net

(Feb 08, 2018) Iceland’s Minister of Social Affairs and Equality Ásmundur Einar Daðason is also responsible for labour market issues. He met the labour market parties already the first week after becoming a government minister. Right now two issues are extremely important, he believes: To maintain the good relations with the labour market parties and strengthening the trust between the ministry, the government and the parties.

Anniken Hauglie at the Nordic council of ministers - changing focus on working environments

(Dec 11, 2017) A changing labour market means new demands and challenges for the labour market's parties, politicians and society as a whole. This formed the backdrop when Anniken Hauglie hosted a conversation during the Nordic labour ministers' meeting in Oslo recently. The opening theme was how working environments influence productivity.

Europe takes on social injustice – does the Nordic region show the way?

(Nov 23, 2017) The social pillar has been missing from Europe’s development. The Gothenburg summit presented a new future. Not everyone enjoys the result, and there are differences of opinion within the Nordic region too. When national interests are at stake, and businesses say no, you get disagreements.

How can the EU’s social pillar be turned into reality?

(Nov 23, 2017) The EU summit in Gothenburg was a success for the Swedish hosts, but what will the social pillar mean for Europe’s citizens?

The people and trade unions take EU to task over the social pillar

(Nov 23, 2017) With a mix of slogans from the trade union movement, cinnamon rolls and sweets, the Swedish government, led by Prime Minister Stefan Löfven, tries to present the EU from a different perspective. During the social summit in Gothenburg the social partners were literally sitting around the same table as prime ministers and EU Commissioners.

The Nordic region in Europe

(Nov 22, 2017) The EU’s social pillar has been signed at the Social Summit in Gothenburg. Is there reason to fear it will challenge the Nordic model? What does the international trade union movement think? What do employers suggest, and what do the people and Europe’s leaders make of it?

Danish sharing economy strategy just a first step

(Oct 20, 2017) The government’s long-awaited sharing economy strategy is a first, small step towards regulating the sharing economy in Denmark, but the social partners agree more needs to be done.

Agreement on what constitutes minimum rates of pay for construction workers in Sweden

(Sep 13, 2017) After nearly ten years of quarrelling, the Swedish trade union for construction workers (Byggnads) and their counterparts at the Swedish Construction Federation (BI) have agreed what the “minimum rates of pay” for constructions workers posted to Sweden should comprise. The parties think the same conditions should apply for public procurement of construction projects.

Swedish port conflict could lead to change in legislation

(Jun 21, 2017) A long-running conflict in the port of Gothenburg has made the Swedish government consider changes in regulations covering industrial action. The reason the conflict has lasted for so long is a seemingly unsolvable fight for positions between two trade unions which both represent dockworkers.