In focus 2012
When commuting becomes an obstacle race
Border obstacles can be instant traps. But they can also emerge much later as you enter retirement or become unemployed. That’s how the Council of Nordic Trade Unions and the Nordic Association describe the problem in a letter to Sweden’s parliament. Similar letters have reached other Nordic parliaments as part of the more or less simultaneous cross-Nordic debate on border obstacles. Comprehensive work on mapping and finding solutions to Nordic border obstacles has just been completed. Politicians must now make decisions. These are not problems which only concern a small group of people who live along borders, or youths looking for work. Half a million Nordic citizens have either moved to another Nordic country or have been cross border commuting in the past ten years. Nordic Labour Journal takes a close look at the statistics and who the commuters really are.
Gender equality - in our generation?
Nordic women are far ahead in most areas, yet powerful positions within politics and in working life remain male-dominated. Nordic Labour Journal’s barometer shows how women have lost political power in the past year. It’s not a trend change, but a warning signal. Nordic governments want better gender balance, but how to achieve it? Sweden goes for women entrepreneurs, Denmark’s government has promised to turn the tide on gender equality and the Minister for Equality says he wants to change his efforts up a gear to get more women into leadership positions. EU commissioner Viviane Reding is impatiently waiting for results and threatens gender quotas to get more women into boardrooms. A Danish brewing giant realises something must be done and takes unlateral action. Yet not like in Norway where a quota law backed up by effective sanctions is proving a success.
Age is no barrier
We must demystify old age. That was the message at the Copenhagen conference marking the beginning of the European Year for Active Ageing and Solidarity Between Generations 2012. Europe’s age distribution is rapidly changing. The Danish Minster for Employment, Mette Frederiksen, pointed out there will be fewer young people in the labour market than people outside as early as in 2017. She said older people need to work a bit longer. The demographic challenges were also top of the agenda when Sweden’s Prime minister invited nine of his colleagues to the Northern Future Forum. As we live longer we must work for longer, goes the slogan in Norway. Why do Icelandic men work longer than anybody else? What do employers and authorities do to prolong the careers of older people? The Nordic Labour Journal focuses on points of view and debates emerging from our changing demographics.
