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In Focus

Sustainability must be based on democracy and has a hefty price tag

Nordic countries are leading the way in sustainable development and welfare, built on solid democratic foundations. That was one of the central themes when Finland organised its first conference after taking on the 2016 Presidency of the Nordic Council of Ministers.

Sustainability must be based on democracy and has a hefty price tag - Read More…

When the diversity diversifies

“Immigration to the Nordic region does not only mean more diversity. What we’re seeing now is that the diversity is diversifying. We get super-diversity,” says Tuomas Martikainen, Director of the Finnish Institute of Migration.

When the diversity diversifies - Read More…

Iceland's Welfare Watch cushioned the crisis and led to stronger Nordic cooperation

Iceland's Welfare Watch cushioned the crisis and led to stronger Nordic cooperation

The Finnish programme for Nordic cooperation aims to secure welfare by extending cooperation between different government departments and organisations. But can it be done? Iceland’s Welfare Watch is one of the best examples of an innovative way to cooperate.

Iceland's Welfare Watch cushioned the crisis and led to stronger Nordic cooperation - Read More…

Kick off for "How are you doing in the Nordic countries?"

Kick off for "How are you doing in the Nordic countries?"

Kick off in Turku/Åbo for the Finnish Presidency and a great drive for Nordic cross-sector cooperation. How can work, welfare and culture be combined?

Kick off for "How are you doing in the Nordic countries?" - Read More…

Art, culture and wellbeing

Art, culture and wellbeing

What if we turned the pyramide upside down and allowed the ministry of culture, rather than the ministry of finance, to be in charge of social development? What would happen if that ministry, which is usually bottom of the hierarchy, could prioritise measures to promote sustainable development? Would it make a difference?

Art, culture and wellbeing - Read More…

What happens when the refugee stream has been stemmed?

What happens when the refugee stream has been stemmed?

“It’s like on a plane when the oxygen masks have been activated. When you’re told to put on your own mask before helping people sitting next to you. If we are to help the world, we must look after our own country first,” says Jøran Kallmyr, State Secretary at the Norwegian Ministry of Justice.

What happens when the refugee stream has been stemmed? - Read More…

Researcher: ”Lowering the minimum wage creates a new underclass”

Researcher: ”Lowering the minimum wage creates a new underclass”

There is agreement on one thing when it comes to refugees — the many newly arrived must be integrated into their new societies. They need accommodation, language skills and jobs. The Nordic cooperation could do with sharing experiences for how to achieve that.

Researcher: ”Lowering the minimum wage creates a new underclass” - Read More…

Entrepreneurs with a clear message about refugees

Entrepreneurs with a clear message about refugees

Finland has been caught unprepared by a flow of refugees the size of which the country has not experienced since World War II and the evacuation of Finnish Karelia. Many private individuals have been willing to help look after the new arrivals by offering food, clothes and accommodation. And now entrepreneurs are starting to turn up at refugee centres.

Entrepreneurs with a clear message about refugees - Read More…

Why are working life researchers so reluctant to talk about the future?

This summer Ann Bergman really managed to ignite the debate on working life research. In an article in the Nordic Journal of Working Life Studies she asked why working life researchers are so uninterested in the future.

Why are working life researchers so reluctant to talk about the future? - Read More…

New challenges for working life research

New challenges for working life research

Big Data is the new buzzword for the enormous increase in stored information across the world. But how will this information stream influence working life and working life research?

New challenges for working life research - Read More…

Do we have a true image of the new working life?

Do we have a true image of the new working life?

For many years there has been talk about the new working life, where work is more about doing something meaningful than about making money. But are we really seeing the emergence of a new type of independent worker who feels collective agreements and permanent contracts are nothing but obstacles?

Do we have a true image of the new working life? - Read More…

Fewer Swedes want to buy or perform undeclared work

Fewer Swedes want to buy or perform undeclared work

Today nearly three times as many Swedes are negative towards undeclared work compared to six years ago. One explanation to this change in attitudes are the household tax breaks introduced in 2007 and 2008. Now the government is reducing the size of the deduction and critics warn against an increase in undeclared labour.

Fewer Swedes want to buy or perform undeclared work - Read More…

Coordinated controls in fight against Norway’s shadow economy

Coordinated controls in fight against Norway’s shadow economy

In Norway staff from six different authorities have gathered in joint offices in Oslo, Bergen and Stavanger to fight the shadow economy. Building sites and other workplaces have been targeted in coordinated operations by 120 investigators. The results have been good so far. The operations run alongside campaigns against undeclared work and have had broad media coverage.

Coordinated controls in fight against Norway’s shadow economy - Read More…

A Danish conflict: Fighting the shadow economy vs respecting privacy

A Danish conflict: Fighting the shadow economy vs respecting privacy

The Danish government wants to ban the hunting for undeclared work in private gardens. The social partners and the opposition fear this will lead to more social dumping.

A Danish conflict: Fighting the shadow economy vs respecting privacy - Read More…

Many different experiences await Nordjobb participants

Many different experiences await Nordjobb participants

Young people travel across the Nordic region to work with tourists, weed spinach fields and public parks or pack prawns in Greenland — all thanks to Nordjobb. And the experiences are all unique.

Many different experiences await Nordjobb participants - Read More…

Nordjobb turns 30

Nordjobb turns 30

If Nordjobb had been established as a result of labour market policies it would probably never have lasted for 30 years. But getting youths short term jobs in a Nordic neighbouring country is about so much more.

Nordjobb turns 30 - Read More…

Busy days when Nordjobb people flocked to Norway in the 80s

Busy days when Nordjobb people flocked to Norway in the 80s

“Wow! Has it already been 30 years since Nordjobb started up!” Eva Jakobson Vaagland, the first Nordjobb project leader in Norway, is surprised when we call her.

Busy days when Nordjobb people flocked to Norway in the 80s - Read More…

Loa Brynjulfsdottir: The Nordic region is my home country

Loa Brynjulfsdottir: The Nordic region is my home country

As soon as Loa Brynjulfsdottir was old enough, she applied for a job through Nordjobb. That was in 1990 and the start of many years working through Nordjobb and a strong feeling of Nordic belonging.

Loa Brynjulfsdottir: The Nordic region is my home country - Read More…

When Gunvor Kronman became Gunnar in the warehouse

When Gunvor Kronman became Gunnar in the warehouse

For some, Nordjobb means that life takes a new and interesting turn. For Gunvor Kronman the job in Danish Aalborg had a dramatic and crucial impact.

When Gunvor Kronman became Gunnar in the warehouse - Read More…

Nordics: Surprisingly many struggle with literacy and numeracy

Nordics: Surprisingly many struggle with literacy and numeracy

The challenge facing politicians is helping two million adults who lack the necessary skills for working and social life to secure a chance to develop, says Anders Rosdahl. He is a senior research fellow at the Danish National Centre for Social Research, and the Danish representative in the network which has just presented the Nordic PIAAC report.

Nordics: Surprisingly many struggle with literacy and numeracy - Read More…

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